Brian Dawkins on Jalen Hurts, the Tush Push, and Why Eagles Fans Should Keep Pushing

Jalen Hurts didn’t just silence his critics this season—he practically sent them on vacation. With the Lombardi Trophy back in Philadelphia, Hurts has officially leveled up from “game-manager with legs” to playoff juggernaut, leading the Eagles to 95 points across their NFC title game and Super Bowl run.

While the sports world debated Hurts’ real ceiling, Brian Dawkins saw greatness brewing ever since Hurts’ dramatic benching at Alabama in 2018. Dawkins says the way Hurts handled being replaced by Tua Tagovailoa (who, by the way, threw the winning TD to none other than DeVonta Smith—future Eagle alert!) showed exactly the character Philly needed. Dawkins put it simply: "That young man is who I saw being able to be introduced to Philadelphia and grow as a quarterback. And he's still growing."

But don’t think Hurts’ new ring means he’s off the hook. Dawkins expects more, saying: "I'm baffled when people get mad when someone says Jalen is not playing to his potential. Certain games, he was not." Hurts’ own high standards are the point, Dawkins argues. "When you flash that, people will always expect it. You gotta hold him to a higher standard." Welcome to Philly, where the only thing higher than expectations is the number of cheesesteaks consumed in a championship parade.

Dawkins isn’t just talking football—he’s also championing health as part of the "It Takes 2" initiative, raising awareness for type-2 diabetes and kidney disease. With a family history of high blood pressure and diabetes, Dawkins urges everyone to get checked before problems get serious. "Once I get information or wisdom, I'm supposed to share it. So that's where this campaign comes in… If there's someone that popped into your mind, then that person needs to go to testyourkidneys.com." You don’t need to run a 40-yard dash to take care of your health—just a quick test and you’re ahead of the game.

Now, back to the field—the tush push remains the stuff of NFL nightmares for everyone not wearing midnight green. Teams are desperate to ban the signature play the Eagles have converted over 90% of the time, but as Dawkins points out, you can’t duplicate what you don’t have. "For Jalen, he squats 600 pounds. Not every team has that element," Dawkins says. No wonder defenders look like they’re trying to stop a freight train with a bike lock.

As long as the NFL keeps the tush push legal, expect plenty more highlight reels out of Philly. Everyone else can keep complaining while the Eagles keep pushing—literally and figuratively.