The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 season, which began with high hopes of repeating as Super Bowl champions, ended in disappointment with a 23-19 wild-card playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers on January 11, 2026. Amid the fallout from this early exit, tensions within the team have come to the forefront, particularly surrounding star wide receiver A.J. Brown and his relationship with head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Former Eagles center and Super Bowl champion Jason Kelce offered a blunt assessment of Brown’s future, stating that the receiver “needs to leave” because “Jalen Hurts isn’t the one” to maximize his potential.
Kelce, now a respected voice in Philadelphia media circles after retiring, shared his thoughts on the 94WIP Morning Show shortly after the playoff defeat. He described Brown’s frustrations as “palpable” throughout the season, pointing to visible moments of discord, including a heated sideline exchange with Sirianni during the 49ers game. In that incident, Brown and Sirianni had to be separated by team senior advisor Dom DiSandro after an animated confrontation late in the first half. The argument stemmed from Brown’s slow departure from the field following a third-down incompletion, but it symbolized deeper issues that had been simmering for months.
Brown, acquired by the Eagles in a blockbuster trade in 2022, has been one of the NFL’s premier wide receivers, consistently delivering over 1,000 receiving yards in his time with the team. In 2025, he reached the milestone again with 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 receptions, though his yards per catch dropped to a career-low 12.9. Despite the statistical achievement, his production and involvement in key situations declined compared to previous years, particularly on third downs and in the red zone.
Brown publicly voiced dissatisfaction multiple times, including criticizing the offense on a livestream and even suggesting fantasy football managers bench him due to his limited targets.
The offensive struggles were widespread. After winning the Super Bowl in 2024 behind a dominant run game led by Saquon Barkley and a balanced attack under then-offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, the 2025 unit faltered under new coordinator Kevin Patullo. The Eagles finished 11-6 in the regular season, clinching the NFC East but dropping to 19th in scoring and 24th in total yards—sharp declines from their top-tier rankings in prior years. The run game, once a strength, collapsed, with the team averaging just 4.1 yards per carry and negative expected points added per rush.
Hurts’ rushing output fell to 421 yards, his lowest as a full-time starter, and the offense struggled to find rhythm, especially in the second half of games, where they averaged only 9.7 points per game late in the season.
Criticism has increasingly focused on Hurts’ limitations as a passer. Reports highlighted his reluctance to operate from under center consistently, aversion to pre-snap motion, and challenges with quick post-snap reads or intermediate throws. In the playoff loss, Hurts threw incomplete passes toward Brown in critical moments, including into heavy coverage, contributing to the sideline tension. Some internal sources described Hurts as a source of frustration, suggesting he needs to be pushed beyond his comfort zone. Despite this, Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman have publicly backed the quarterback, emphasizing his leadership and commitment to winning.
Sirianni noted that everyone, including himself, shared responsibility for the offensive woes, and the team parted ways with Patullo shortly after the season ended.
Kelce’s comments cut through the diplomacy. Drawing from his own experience in 2016, when trade rumors affected his play, he advised Brown to step away for his mental well-being and career trajectory. He acknowledged Brown’s value but argued the current dynamic—marked by inconsistent quarterback play and coaching decisions—was hindering the receiver. Kelce stopped short of calling for a trade outright in some remarks but implied separation might benefit both parties, suggesting Brown “needs to get away” to regain his edge.
The Eagles’ front office faces tough decisions heading into the 2026 offseason. Roseman has described Brown as a “great player who loves football,” signaling reluctance to move him, but trade speculation persists given the receiver’s contract and the team’s need to address offensive identity. Sirianni has expressed a desire for the offense to “evolve,” and the search for a new coordinator is underway, with potential candidates expected to emphasize getting the best out of talents like Brown, DeVonta Smith, Barkley, and Hurts.
For a franchise that tasted ultimate success just one year ago, the rapid downturn has been jarring. The 2025 campaign exposed cracks in scheme, execution, and interpersonal dynamics that no amount of talent could fully mask. Brown’s frustrations, amplified by the sideline blowup and his quiet post-game exit after the 49ers loss, have become a focal point. Whether the Eagles can repair these rifts or opt for significant changes remains uncertain, but Kelce’s candid take underscores a growing sentiment: the current setup may no longer serve one of the team’s most explosive weapons.
As Philadelphia looks ahead, the pressure is on to recapture the cohesion that fueled their championship run. Hurts remains the entrenched starter, backed by ownership and coaching, yet doubts linger about his ability to elevate the passing game consistently. Brown, at 28, is in his prime and unlikely to accept a diminished role. The offseason will test the Eagles’ ability to adapt, rebuild trust, and prove they can move past a season of unmet expectations.
For now, Jason Kelce’s words serve as a stark reminder that sometimes, even in the NFL’s most talented locker rooms, parting ways becomes the necessary path forward.
