Report: Jalen Hurts, Sirianni Relationship in 'Better Place' amid Eagles' Playoff Run

The relationship between Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts has reportedly improved since ESPN reported in August there was "a prolonged strain" between the two last season.

According to ESPN's Tim McManus, one of the sources who contributed to the August report said the pair's "relationship is in a better place."

"Once you learn a person, you learn how to deal with that person," the source told McManus.

McManus and Jeremy Fowler reported for ESPN in August that "a disconnect in offensive visions" had caused the split between Sirianni and Hurts during the 2023 season.

After advancing past the Wild Card round with a win over the Green Bay Packers, the Eagles are preparing to take on the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round on Sunday.

According to McManus, the turn in Hurts and Sirianni's relationship took place during the Eagles' Week 5 bye. The team went into the break having dropped to 2-2 on the season with a Week 4 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

McManus previously reported that coach and quarterback "had myriad conversations about the direction of the football team" during that week off.

When Hurts spoke to reporters after the bye, his tone was notably more positive than his past answers about the head coach.

"I think this was probably, I'd say, one of the most efficient bye weeks I've been a part of in my career," Hurts said ahead of Week 6, per NBC Sports Philadelphia's Dave Zangaro. "Just being able to, like I said, share those moments and talk through some things and build."

Those conversations with Hurts, combined with a talk initially reported by McManus between Sirianni and his offensive linemen, could have contributed to Philadelphia's focus on their run game after the bye.

The Eagles went from averaging about 153 rushing yards per game as of Week 4 to rushing for more than 187 yards per game starting Week 6. The focus dropped Hurts' usage as a passer but improved his efficiency and brought Saquon Barkley within 101 yards of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing yards record.

That improvement could lead to the Eagles losing offensive coordinator Kellen Moore after a single season with the team. The former Dallas Cowboys coordinator and player has been tied to the head coaching vacancy with his old club.

For now, with Moore still in Philadelphia and the connection between Hurts and Sirianni reportedly strong, the Eagles will look to lean on their rushing attack again this weekend as the team looks to advance to the conference championship for the second time in three seasons.