The Philadelphia Eagles are gearing up for their second Super Bowl appearance in three years, and as fate would have it, they’ll get a chance at revenge against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59.
A huge performance from Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley would surely push the Eagles over the top. However, a Hall of Famer with a Super Bowl ring of his own believes Philadelphia’s chances of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy lie in someone else’s hands.
Michael Strahan Believes Eagles’ Super Bowl Hopes Rest With Jalen Hurts
Michael Strahan, a Hall of Fame edge rusher turned NFL analyst, is well known for his quarterback-pressuring exploits on the field, as well as his key role in the New York Giants’ unlikely victory over the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl 42.
He knows as well as anyone what it takes to win at the NFL level, and when asked on FS1’s “First Things First” who he considered to be the Eagles’ most important player heading into their Big Game rematch with the Chiefs, Strahan didn’t mince words.
“Saquon is a big part. He’s the reason that they’re here — one of the main reasons that they’re here. [But] I think Jalen Hurts. I feel like the quarterback is always the most important guy on the field,” Strahan commented.
“He touches the ball every offensive play… I think it’s Jalen Hurts. They [the Chiefs will] try to stack the box to stop Saquon Barkley. If they do that, you’re gonna have to throw the ball. Jalen Hurts has done a great job of not turning the ball over,” the Hall of Famer continued.
“He has great receivers in [A.J.] Brown and [DeVonta] Smith, and a great tight end [Dallas Goedert]. I think Jalen Hurts is definitely, without a doubt, the most important player on the offense for this team.”
.@Chris_Broussard asked @michaelstrahan whether Saquon or Hurts is the bigger key to an Eagles upset win:
“Saquon is a big part. He’s the reason that they’re here… I think Jalen Hurts. I feel like the quarterback is always the most important guy on the field.” pic.twitter.com/H1kApOURHo
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) February 7, 2025
The Chiefs, of course, are the kings of the AFC once again, following their 32-29 defeat of the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game.
The Eagles have come as close as anyone not named Tom Brady to knock off Kansas City during its dynastic run, but they will have to defy the odds to beat a team with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In their combined careers, the legendary quarterback-tight end combo has gone 17-3 in the postseason.
Still, Kansas City will have a tough task on its hands. Against a game-breaker like Barkley, a dual-threat quarterback like Hurts, and a defense that ranked second in the league according to PFN’s Defense+ metric, it’s going to be a tall order for the Chiefs to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat.
Hurts and the Eagles will face Mahomes and the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 on Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. EST at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
