Jalen Hurts is already fired up about Sean Mannion; a noticeable change from the Kevin Patullo era

Jalen Hurts doesn’t usually hand out glowing endorsements for new coaches. The Eagles quarterback tends to keep things measured, professional, and relatively vague when speaking publicly.

That’s why his early reaction to new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion stood out.

When Hurts was asked about Mannion shortly after the hire, he didn’t hedge or dodge the question.

“He’s amazing,” Hurts said. “I’m excited for what’s to come.”

That might sound like a simple comment on the surface, but in the context of the Eagles’ recent offensive history, it carries a bit more weight.

Jalen Hurts’ Comments About Sean Mannion Feel Different

Outside of the book tour, Jalen Hurts is keeping close tabs on the Eagles' offseason.

When I brought up Sean Mannion, he nodded his head: " "He’s amazing. I’m excited for what’s to come. Obviously, things have been limited given the timing of everything." They've been in… https://t.co/UvDFj9gjbu

— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) March 13, 2026

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Jalen Hurts never once publicly sounded this enthusiastic about former offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.

That doesn’t necessarily mean there was friction behind the scenes, but the difference in tone is hard to ignore. Throughout Patullo’s tenure, Hurts’ comments about the offense were typically generic quarterback-speak — focused on execution, improvement, and doing better week to week.

You never heard Hurts call the guy “amazing.”

And frankly, the results on the field didn’t exactly inspire much excitement either.

Despite having one of the most talented skill groups in the league — Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert — the Eagles offense sputtered through much of last season. Philadelphia finished 24th in the NFL in total offense, averaging just 311.2 yards per game.

For context, even the 3–14 Arizona Cardinals averaged more yards per game than the Eagles.

That’s simply not acceptable when you’re working with a roster this loaded.

So when Hurts sounds legitimately energized about the new guy calling plays, it’s at least a small signal that the Eagles might be headed in a different direction offensively.

Jalen Hurts Buying In Matters

When it comes to offensive coaching changes, the most important voice in the room is always the quarterback.

If Jalen Hurts believes in Sean Mannion’s system, that matters. A lot.

Quarterback-coordinator relationships often determine whether an offense takes off or stalls out. Hurts doesn’t have to publicly rave about every coach he works with, but when he does show enthusiasm, it usually means something.

And it’s not just Hurts backing Mannion.

Former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, who played with Mannion earlier in his career, also praised the hire when it happened. Foles described Mannion as one of the most impressive rookies he had ever been around, highlighting his work ethic and almost obsessive preparation habits.

According to Foles, Mannion either had a photographic memory or simply spent an absurd amount of time studying the game.

Either way, that kind of reputation tends to translate well once someone steps into a play-calling role.

The Eagles Offense Needs a Reset

The reality is that the Eagles offense needed a shakeup.

You don’t finish near the bottom third of the league in total offense with Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown, and DeVonta Smith unless something in the structure isn’t working.

The Eagles clearly agreed.

Moving on from Kevin Patullo was the first step. Bringing in a younger offensive mind like Sean Mannion is the next attempt to unlock the full potential of this roster.

And if the early tone from Jalen Hurts is any indication, the quarterback is fully on board with the change.

That alone doesn’t guarantee results.

But it’s certainly a better starting point than what the Eagles had a year ago.