The Philadelphia Eagles may be 8-2, but the conversation surrounding their quarterback, Jalen Hurts, has become far more turbulent than their record suggests. Reports of internal frustration and rising criticism have created an unexpected narrative around a player who has consistently steadied the team.
That climate set the stage for a strong, unapologetic defense from a former Pro Bowl quarterback who refused to let the noise go unchecked.
Robert Griffin III’s Pushback Against Escalating Criticism of Jalen Hurts
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III delivered one of the strongest public defenses of Jalen Hurts this season. He began by declaring on social media that “Jalen Hurts is the most disrespected QB in the NFL right now,” framing the criticism as exaggerated and disconnected from Hurts’ actual body of work.
He tweeted, “Jalen Hurts is the most disrespected QB in the NFL right now. The criticism of the Reigning Super Bowl MVP after leading his team to an 8-2 record is RIDICULOUS. People taking shots at him because the Eagles aren’t winning the way they want them to win can SHUT ALL THE WAY UP.”
Griffin followed that with a detailed video message in which he highlighted what Hurts has already accomplished in Philadelphia and why the current backlash feels misplaced.
In his remarks, Griffin stated, “Jalen Hurts is an absolute winner and outplayed Patrick Mahomes in two Super Bowls. He is the reigning Super Bowl champion with the Eagles. He is the reigning Super Bowl MVP.” His intent was clear: the quarterback at the center of this storm has produced results that contradict the narrative now building around him.
Still, the offense’s struggles have contributed to the scrutiny. The Eagles have scored just 26 points across their last two games. They sit near the bottom of the league at 300.1 total yards per game, with their passing offense averaging 199.5 yards.
Those figures fall short of expectations for a team that has been in the championship conversation for years. Yet Griffin pushed back on the idea that these statistical dips justify the harsh tone of the criticism, especially when the team continues to win.
According to PFSN’s QB Impact metric, Hurts has earned a B minus grade and holds the number 8 season rank, which places him 233rd in overall ranking since 2000.
He has played and started all 10 games so far, completing 180 of 269 passes for a 66.9 percent completion rate and a total of 1,995 passing yards. These numbers offer additional context to how his season has unfolded amid the rising scrutiny.
Griffin argued that frustration has stemmed from how the Eagles are winning rather than the results themselves. He suggested that dissatisfaction arises when the team fails to match the offensive style people want to see.
That disconnect has placed Hurts at the center of a narrative he views as unfair, particularly given the circumstances Hurts has managed, including A.J. Brown’s recent public frustrations.
Part of the criticism was detailed by The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who reported that some players have become frustrated with Hurts’ hesitancy against tight windows and his preference for checkdowns or scrambles.
She noted that throws Hurts relied on heavily in practice did not always translate smoothly to games, pointing to a risky decision against Detroit that nearly resulted in a pick-six. Though the Eagles won, the offense still felt out of sync.
Hurts himself addressed the scrutiny on November 20, saying, “I never run away from holding myself accountable,” and acknowledging that improvement must begin with him. While the defense has carried much of the load during this uneven stretch, the offense must reestablish its identity to keep pace with expectations.
Griffin’s message ultimately called for perspective. Many teams would gladly trade places with an 8-2 contender. In his view, the criticism surrounding Hurts magnifies imperfections while ignoring the stability and winning he has brought to the Eagles, a standard few quarterbacks in the league could meet under similar pressure.
