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NFL Hall of Famer praises Jalen Hurts amid debate of his elite status

Originally posted on Inside the Iggles
By Anthony Miller | Last updated Aug 13, 2025 9:00 AM ET

It's not every day that a Pro Football Hall of Famer will go out of their way to praise a player, but Peyton Manning shared his feelings on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

While speaking with Cris Collinsworth on the PFF Podcast, Manning talked about how impressed he has been with Hurts and his professionalism in getting better as a quarterback.

"He's played so well in both of the Super Bowls, but I like the way he goes about it. He calls me a lot and asks me lots of questions. They actually run a lot of plays that we used to run. [Nick] Sirianni, to Frank Reich, to Tom Moore, sort of that chain. And he calls me with very specific questions about certain plays. So he's a student of the game. Here's another example—he squats 600 pounds, he can run over guys, he can throw it a mile. But his appreciation of the cerebral part of the game is what is impressive to me and how he's taken his game to the next level and I think the sky is the limit for this guy."

Peyton Manning raves about Jalen Hurts on the PFF podcast with Cris Collinsworth:

Manning: "He's played so well in both of the Super Bowls, but I like the way he goes about it. He calls me a lot and asks me lots of questions. They actually run a lot of plays that we used to… pic.twitter.com/MiyYHOynnY
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) August 12, 2025

Can Hurts live up to Manning's praise and get better as a player?

It's hard to top what Hurts has been able to do so early in his NFL career. In five years, he has been selected to two Pro Bowls, was a second-team All-Pro in 2022, took the Eagles to two Super Bowls, won one of them, and was Super Bowl MVP.

There has been a ton of debate over the offseason as to where Hurts should rank among NFL quarterbacks. Some experts believe he should be in the top five, while others don't even consider him in the top 10.

The one thing people can't argue is that Hurts is a winner. He's put up a 46-20 overall record as a starter in the regular season and is 6-3 in the postseason.

It appears that Hurts has a lot to prove to people when it comes to his passing abilities, but nothing can convince Eagles fans that he's not one of the top all-around quarterbacks in the NFL. From his ability to make plays with his legs to his pinpoint accuracy on deep passes, Hurts is a polished NFL player who doesn't nearly get the love and respect he deserves.

Hopefully, hearing from one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game will be enough for people to see Hurts for who he truly is: an elite quarterback.

This article first appeared on Inside the Iggles and was syndicated with permission.

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