PHILADELPHIA – Asked if one NFL Most Valuable Player FinalistJalen Hurts revealed, “I didn’t know.” Nick Sirianni slammed his fist on a table in mock disgust and roared “Oh man!” when asked about his finalist snub for Coach of the Year.
In other words, individual awards don’t mean much in Philly this week.
Not when there’s a Super Bowl to win.
The trophy is within reach for the Eagles as they head into Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers. Sirianni and several Eagles stumbled upon Hurts becoming MVP after finalists for The Associated Press Awards were announced Wednesday. Hurts took a moment to enjoy his name in the mix with fellow quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow as contenders for the NFL’s top individual award. No Eagle has won MVP since QB Norm Van Brocklin in 1960.
“I think it’s a cool honor,” Hurts said. “I don’t really have much to say about it. To be honest I’m at a loss for words.”
Hurts put up numbers worthy of such consideration in the regular season: Philadelphia went 14-1 on his starts and he had 3,701 passing yards, 760 rushing yards and 35 combined touchdowns. He led the Eagles to the top of the NFC and to a playoff win over the New York Giants.
“I hope Jalen wins,” said Sirianni. “That’s what you want for your players. He had a great year.”
The funny thing is, Hurt’s MVP push may have been aided by results in the games he didn’t play in. The Eagles went 0-2 when Hurts missed two games late in the season with a sprained right shoulder. The message was clear as they stumbled behind backup Gardner Minshew – what kind of team would they be without hurts?
“I think he should win,” said tight end Dallas Goedert. “I think he was the biggest part of what we did this year.”
Hurts still hurts in his right shoulder — he told FOX Sports before the win over the Giants that he’s “nowhere near 100%” — but it didn’t show on the field. He went 7-of-7 for 89 yards in the first quarter, threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score in the 38-7 romp.
Hurts brushed off questions about his health again on Wednesday.
“I’ve felt better, but that doesn’t matter,” Hurts said. “I have to get it done.”
There’s been a lot of talk about 49ers QB Brock Purdy being just a 23-year-old rookie since he’s only making his second postseason career start. However, Hurts is only 24 and playing in his first NFC title game.
Nobody on the Eagles expects the moment to swallow hurts. Hurts entered Michael Jordan I’m Back Shirt at Lincoln Financial Field for the season finale, a nod to their two comebacks (pain from shoulder injury; retired Jordan). Sirianni wasn’t shy about comparing Hurts’ competitiveness to Jordan’s famous ferocity. Jordan, of course, has won six NBA championships. Hurts has one NFC East title so far.
“The things that Michael Jordan, you could see a lot of things about him on The Last Dance, about his competitiveness and about his desire and will to win,” Sirianni said. “So when you make that comparison, the first thing you think about is how well he’s played this year, how he’s run the football and how he’s threw the football, reading defenses, having accurate throws, as well as how he’s done all of that , the first thing you notice about him is his will to win, his fighting spirit.”
Modest on the podium, Hurts has a different fire in the dressing room and on the field.
“I’m trying to set the pace, set the temperature of the room,” he said.
That’s one reason he’s an MVP candidate. He’s also in the running for Offensive Player of the Year. Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen was a finalist for AP Assistant Coach of the Year.
Brian Daboll from New York, Doug Pederson from Jacksonville and Kyle Shanahan from San Francisco are the finalists for the AP Coach of the Year award. Sirianni went 3-0 against Daboll and the Giants this season. Sirianni beat Pederson and the Jaguars in October.
There is only one name left on the list to cross out.
“These awards are beautiful. I’m very happy for Jalen and Shane to be here,” Sirianni said. “But of course we have much bigger plans and goals than individual awards.”
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