For the better part of the last decade, Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks never had to worry about reading defenses at the line of scrimmage.

That job was given to All-Pro center Jason Kelce, and his offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.

jason kelce
Now that Kelce has retired, though, the onus on reading defensive alignments, and making adjustments falls back on the quarterback’s lap. And Jalen Hurts couldn’t be happier about that.

“Over the years, it’s been something that I’ve wanted to do, but I feel like it hasn’t — when you have Jason Kelce, just let him do it,” Hurts explained.

“And so, I never really had the opportunity to do those things, but I think the opportunity has come and it’s a collaborative thing with myself and Cam [Jurgens], and we just have to build that relationship.”

Jurgens was handpicked by Kelce to be his successor at the center position, and has major shoes to fill. A player like Hurts also has to prove he can be a dynamic passer and lead his team to the promised lands again.

Even with a younger version of Kelce working with him.

“He knows I have a lot of confidence in him to do the job, and be the player he is,” Hurts said on Jurgens. “I mean, he stepped up for us in big moments, he played ball for us last year, and he’s been ready. He’s ready to lead that o-line room, and I know those guys are gonna lean on him.”

As the Eagles pick up the pieces from Kelce’s retirement, the opportunity to do things differently at the quarterback position has Hurts more than excited for 2024.