Eagles Rumors: Jalen Hurts, Nick Sirianni 'Really Improved' Communication After 2023

The once-frosty dynamic between Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts appears to have thawed as the team prepares to open the 2024 regular season.

On the latest episode of the Scoop City podcast (starts at 12:05) mark, The Athletic's Dianna Russini said Sirianni and Hurts have "really improved" their communication with each other to get on the same page with how they want the offense to operate.

In a story from ESPN's Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler on Aug. 7, they detailed the "prolonged strain" between Sirianni and Hurts throughout the 2023 season caused by a "disconnect in offensive visions" between the two.

One person described the relationship as "fractured" and unhealthy.

The report came a couple of months after Hurts seemingly gave a non-answer when asked during a press conference about Sirianni being open-minded to change the offense.

"Um, I mean, that's a great question. I don't know that I know the answer to it," Hurts responded.

In the same press conference, Hurts also struggled to come up with an answer about what he's seen from Sirianni about the changes.

"I think he's been great in the messages he's delivering to the team," he said. "Trying to be very intentional in what he's saying. Yeah."

There was speculation that Sirianni's job was in serious jeopardy after the Eagles collapsed down the stretch last season. Fowler, Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham reported in April that Philadelphia's ownership and front office at least gave consideration to hiring Bill Belichick.

Even though the Eagles held onto Sirianni, Russini reported general manager Howie Roseman was a key driving force behind the hiring of Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator and Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator.

Roseman has denied that he was the one who picked the coaches for Sirianni's staff.

All of this suggests that Sirianni will be under a very bright spotlight, especially early in the season. The Eagles made several big moves during the offseason to improve their roster, notably signing Saquon Barkley and Bryce Huff in free agency.

Roseman used his first two draft picks to select Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to add youth and speed to the secondary.

The dynamic between Sirianni and Hurts is the most important one for the Eagles. Hurts is playing with his third offensive coordinator in three seasons. He was the MVP runner-up in 2022 with Shane Steichen.

Despite setting career-highs in passing yards (3,858) and passing touchdowns (23) last season under Brian Johnson in 2023, Hurts also had as many interceptions as he did in the previous two seasons combined (15).

If Hurts struggles again this season and his relationship with Sirianni is irreparably damaged, the Eagles could miss the playoffs and will most likely be in the market for a new head coach next offseason.

Sirianni has led the Eagles to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons, including an appearance in Super Bowl 57. They started the 2023 campaign with a 10-1 record before losing six of their last seven games, capped off by a 32-9 defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card game.

The Eagles will be able to show off their new-look offense under Moore for the first time on Friday when they take on the Green Bay Packers in Brazil.