Super Bowl 59 is set, and it’s a rematch filled with storylines. The Philadelphia Eagles are back on the biggest stage in football, looking to avenge their Super Bowl 57 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Two years ago, it was Patrick Mahomes who led the Chiefs to a second-half comeback, leaving Jalen Hurts and the Eagles just short of the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy.
Now, after a dominant 55-point performance in the NFC Championship Game, Philadelphia has a chance at redemption, and the opportunity to prevent Kansas City from becoming the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls.
James Jones Calls Out Jalen Hurts’ Postgame Comments
But as the Eagles prepare for their biggest test yet, former NFL wide receiver James Jones had some harsh words for their quarterback.
The Super Bowl XLV champion and FS1 analyst didn’t hold back after Hurts’ postgame remarks about finally being “let out of my straitjacket” against Washington. Speaking on The Facility, Jones called out the Eagles star for his comments.
“You’ve been playing weak,” Jones said. “You ain’t been balling all year long. Your coach has gotten up there and had your back. And to me, what I took out of it, a straitjacket means somebody holding you back. That’s a shot at the coaches saying they holding you back.”
.@89JonesNTAF does not hold back after Jalen Hurts' "straitjacket" comments:
"That’s weak. You've been playing weak. You've been bailed out by this team." pic.twitter.com/xHzM6YyE8B
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) January 28, 2025
Hurts’ Straitjacket Comment and Sirianni’s Response
Hurts’ straightjacket comments came after one of his best passing performances of the season — 246 yards and a touchdown on 20-of-28 passing — after struggling to move the ball through the air in previous weeks. When asked about the offensive game plan, Hurts quipped that it “let me out of my straitjacket a little bit.”
The comment quickly gained traction, with some interpreting it as a lighthearted way of acknowledging the Eagles’ shift in play-calling. Others, including Jones, took it as Hurts subtly blaming the coaching staff for limiting him throughout the season.
😊 Eagles HC Nick Sirianni Responds to Jalen Hurts “Straight Jacket” line with a big smile & great answer ahead of Super Bowl
"I think he was having fun after the game… I don’t care how we win, as long as we win! Love how he went out and executed”https://t.co/YQfUHYHbsG pic.twitter.com/R7DQl6KbU5
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) January 28, 2025
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was quick to downplay any controversy. Speaking to reporters, Sirianni insisted that the comment was nothing more than Hurts enjoying the moment.
“I think he was having fun after the game,” Sirianni said. “We’ve been winning a couple different ways this year. I think he’s just having fun after the game. But I know this—he’s said this plenty of times: ‘I don’t care how we win, as long as we win.’”
Has Hurts Been ‘Bailed Out?’
Jones’ criticism points to a larger debate about Hurts’ play this season. Statistically, it hasn’t been his sharpest year as a passer. Before his breakout against Washington, Hurts had been held under 200 passing yards in six of his previous eight starts, leading to questions about his efficiency.
But to say he’s been bailed out discredits what he brings to the table. Hurts accounted for four touchdowns in the NFC title game. Yes, Saquon Barkley’s 118-yard, three-touchdown performance set the tone. Yes, the defense forced four turnovers. But it was Hurts who orchestrated the attack, who made the right reads, who ensured the Eagles executed when it mattered most.
It’s easy to dissect one comment and spin it into a referendum on a quarterback’s play. But in reality, Hurts has done what elite quarterbacks do: win. By PFN’s QB+ metric, he ended the regular season as the league’s fourth-best quarterback.
Two years ago, Hurts learned just how small the margin for error is against Mahomes in the Super Bowl. Now, with a second shot at a Lombardi Trophy, the only thing that will matter on Feb. 9 is whether he shows up and plays well on that legacy-defining night.