Eagles GM Howie Roseman blasts criticism of Jalen Hurts
Says team doesn’t use the press to communicate with players
Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2feay6hd
PHILADELPHIA — The question was inevitable.
With the NFL draft a week away and the Eagles trying to rebound from a frustrating season, general manager Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni met with the media Tuesday, April 14. The conversation eventually turned to quarterback Jalen Hurts and the reports suggesting tension between the star quarterback and the organization.
Roseman did not hesitate.
“If we have any issue with any of our players, we talk to them directly,” he said. “From my perspective, from Nick’s perspective, from Jeffrey’s perspective (owner Jeffrey Lurie), we’re not hiding behind anything. We talk to our players directly.”
The GM went a step further, criticizing the reports about Hurts.
“I think that it’s unfair,” Roseman said. “It’s unfair to have these articles written, but I understand it’s also what sells at this point. Yeah, I think it’s unfortunate.”
The remarks came amid heightened scrutiny of Hurts following a disappointing 2025 campaign for the Eagles offense. A widely circulated report from ESPN earlier this month suggested there had been internal frustration with Hurts and his role in the offense, including questions about how willing he has been to adjust to coaching changes and schematic tweaks. It echoed midseason reports questioning his coachability.
Roseman’s message Tuesday was clear: If there are concerns, they are addressed privately.
“We will talk to our players directly,” he said. “That’s the relationship we have with our guys.”
Sirianni shared that sentiment, emphasizing Hurts’ importance to the franchise and his role as a leader in the locker room.
“We have a lot of confidence in Jalen,” Sirianni said. “He’s done a lot of special things for this team and for this city. We’re excited about continuing to build with him.”
Hurts, 27, remains one of the central figures in franchise history. The former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback has led the Eagles to multiple deep playoff runs, including a pair of Super Bowls, and delivered a Super Bowl championship in 2024 during one of the most successful stretches in team history.
But the 2025 season proved turbulent, in some ways reminiscent of a late-season collapse two years earlier. Philadelphia’s offense never fully found its rhythm and the Eagles were eliminated in the playoffs in the first round.
After the season ended, the team dismissed offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and hired Sean Mannion. Vaunted O-line coach Jeff Stoutland chose to leave. Most of the offensive staff is new.
Roseman insisted Tuesday that the organization’s approach with Hurts — and any player — has not changed.
“There’s a lot that goes on in a season,” Roseman said. “But when there’s something that needs to be addressed, we address it face-to-face.”
For the Eagles, the focus now shifts to the next step in building around their quarterback: the draft.
Draft focus and roster building
Most of the news conference centered on the upcoming NFL draft — April 23-25 in Pittsburgh — and the Eagles’ ongoing effort to reshape their roster after a disappointing finish. Roseman described the organization’s approach as one centered on flexibility.
“You’re always trying to add competition,” he said. “You’re always trying to add talent. That’s the goal every offseason.”
The Birds have been aggressive in recent years, often using trades and creative roster moves to stay competitive while managing the salary cap. Roseman said that philosophy has not changed.
“We’re always going to listen,” he said. “Our job is to do everything we can to make this team better.”
Sirianni said the coaching staff has spent the spring evaluating players who could help improve depth across the roster.
“We’re excited about this class,” Sirianni said. “There are a lot of good players in it.”
The Eagles enter the draft with several needs, particularly on offense after last season’s struggles. Improving the passing game and adding weapons around Hurts remain priorities.
“We’re always looking to add playmakers,” Roseman said, adding that he remains open to making moves during the draft.
A.J. Brown speculation lingers
Star receiver A.J. Brown remains one of the most talented players on the roster, but his name has continued to surface in offseason rumors after a year that included public frustration about the offense.
Brown finished the 2025 season with 1,003 receiving yards — his fourth straight 1,000-yard campaign — but the number represented one of the lower totals of his career.
Roseman did not address specific trade scenarios Tuesday, but his broader message was consistent with past comments: Elite players are hard to replace.
“It’s hard to find great players in this league,” Roseman said in prior remarks about Brown. “A.J.’s a great player.”
For now, the Eagles are publicly touting Brown as a key piece of the offense and a central figure in their effort to bounce back in 2026. If they do trade him, it likely wouldn’t be until after June 1, when the cap hit would be easier to absorb.
In the meantime, they’ve been adding wide receiver depth this offseason — perhaps positioning themselves for dealing Brown. They’ve brought in Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and Dontayvion Wicks.
Offseason outlook
Despite last season’s uneven finish, both Roseman and Sirianni expressed confidence that the team can quickly return to contention.
“We’ve got a lot of good players,” Roseman said. “Our job is to keep building and keep improving.”
For now, though, the story of the Eagles’ offseason continues to revolve around the quarterback. If Roseman’s message Tuesday was any indication, the organization believes Hurts remains firmly at the center of its future.
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.