How Eagles legend Jason Kelce aided Jalen Hurts' development

For a piece published Wednesday, Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated detailed how legendary Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce helped quarterback Jalen Hurts not long after the Eagles made Hurts a second-round draft pick in the spring of 2020. 

"Hurts decided to (1) befriend Kelce, (2) learn from him while studying him up close and (3) apply those lessons in a leadership handoff of sorts," Bishop explained. "The Eagles don’t reach Super Bowl LVII (in February 2023) if Kelce doesn’t aid in Hurts' development."

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni officially accepted the job in January 2021 and understandably has been credited with Hurts emerging as a contender to earn Most Valuable Player honors across each of the past two seasons. 

However, it's forgotten by some that individuals within the Eagles at least temporarily considered replacing Hurts with Deshaun Watson before Watson waived his no-trade clause to join the Cleveland Browns in March 2022. 

As for Kelce, the six-time first-team All-Pro selection reportedly contemplated retirement after the 2022 campaign and called time on his playing days earlier this month. 

It appears he didn't want to ride off into the sunset without preparing Hurts to help the Eagles survive losing such an important voice in the locker room. 

"Late in his career, Kelce appeared to recognize Hurts' intentions," Bishop added. "...Without saying much of anything, according to Averion Hurts Sr., the quarterback’s father, Kelce 'passed the torch to him.' That gesture meant more than might be obvious. Many superstars in Kelce’s position would have never considered stepping even slightly back (still leading, just in a slightly different way)." 

Hurts received a ton of public criticism about his leadership style from noteworthy members of the football community such as longtime insider Peter King during and after the 2023 Eagles' collapse that involved the club losing six of its last seven contests, including a wild-card playoff game. 

Some have even suggested the Eagles could move on from both Hurts and Sirianni next winter depending on all that occurs over the next 11 months or so. 

Hurts seemingly learned plenty from Kelce over the past four years. How the 25-year-old replaces the future Hall of Famer as a locker-room leader could ultimately determine who is atop Philadelphia's depth chart at the sport's most important position in the summer of 2025.