Sean Mannion, a guy who was literally unemployed just three years ago, is now running the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense. This isn’t just a bold move, it’s a massive gamble for the Birds’ season, especially when you look at the coaching staff supporting him: passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard, offensive line coach Chris Kuper, tight ends coach Ryan Mahaffey, and offensive analyst Jerrod Johnson only have a combined 11 seasons in position coach, pass/run game coordinator, or offensive coordinator roles. Jeffrey Lurie once said he doesn’t want his team to be risk averse, and wow, this is certainly walking the talk. The players are hyping up the new staff, which is cool, but let’s be real, words don’t mean squat, results do. Nick Sirianni, Mannion, and his crew have got three massive questions to answer this season.
Unleash Jalen Hurts’ Legs, Or What’s The Point?
First up, are they actually going to let Jalen Hurts run the ball? This was a hot topic last season for a reason. Before 2025, Hurts was averaging a monstrous 9.9 rushing attempts per game. Think about it: during his two Super Bowl runs, he also averaged 9.9 attempts. But then 2025 hit, and that number plummeted to just 6.6 attempts per game. And in those three crushing first-round exits? He ran 8, 1, and 5 times. Was it Kevin Patullo not calling enough runs? Yeah. Was it Hurts not wanting to run as much? Yeah, that too. For the Eagles to truly soar, Hurts needs to use those legs. So, the big question is, can Mannion get him to do it? Or does Mannion even want him to?
Mannion’s history isn’t exactly screaming “mobile QB guru.” He’s come from offenses where the quarterback isn’t asked to be a huge runner. Look at Jordan Love in Green Bay, averaging just 2.6 attempts a game in three years as a starter. When Mannion was with the Vikings under Kevin O’Connell, Kirk Cousins was the QB. Even here in the Emerald City, when Mannion was with the Seahawks, Geno Smith averaged 3.3 attempts per game, and Russell Wilson averaged 3.1. And back with the Rams under Sean McVay, it was Jared Goff. Mannion himself wasn’t a runner as a player. It’s wild to think that as both a player and a coach, Mannion has never been in an offense with a QB who could consistently threaten defenses with his legs. Same goes for Josh Grizzard; Baker Mayfield averaged 3.4 attempts while Grizzard was there, and his Dolphins days featured non-runners like Jay Cutler, Ryan Tannehill, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Tua Tagovailoa. But hey, just because they haven’t seen it, doesn’t mean they can’t do it, right? If the Eagles aren’t going to utilize their mobile QB’s unique talent, what’s the actual point of having a mobile QB?
Can Philly’s Offense Get Complex Again?
And here’s the kicker: Can this new offense actually show some complexity? When the Eagles offense was really humming, like in 2022 and 2024, it was pretty unsto, and that’s exactly what fans expect. We’ve seen what this team can do when the playbook is wide open and unpredictable.
This coaching staff, running an offense that feels totally foreign to what Philly fans are used to, has got its work cut out. The players might be talking a good game, but we all know the deal: results are the only thing that matters in this league. The season is on the line, and these questions need answers, fast. Let’s see if this big risk pays off, or if it sinks their season before it really gets going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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