The reigning Super Bowl champions have a system quarterback and a game manager.
That would be Jalen Hurts, who has played brilliantly in two Super Bowls, with the Eagles blowing out the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in New Orleans in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
Hurts completed 17 of 22 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 72 yards and 11 carries with another score in being named Most Valuable Player.
Which brings us to the supposedly disparaging faint praise which comes to quarterbacks that avoid turnovers, execute a system designed to fit their strengths and stay on top of things such as down, distance and the game clock.
All quarterbacks are in effect “system quarterbacks.” The Eagles’ system happens to use Hurts as a runner because he’s such a good runner – not exactly a novel concept – and uses his running skills as well as those of Saquon Barkley to set up the passing game.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws a pass for a first down on a third down play as San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, second from left, chases him during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia. San Francisco’s Fred Warner (54) looks on. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) A.P. Photo
The 49ers did the same thing with Brock Purdy in very different ways when he took over as the last pick of the draft in 2022 and then excelled in 2023.
Purdy was downgraded in some circles because of the talent of his teammates, and people were happy to point out a dip in performance when some of those players such as Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams had washout years because of injuries.
It stands to reason that the supporting cast matters to the central figure in the sport, who is responsible for 10 other players. Operating a system is huge. Managing a game is huge. These are not small things.
How would Patrick Mahomes be without Andy Reid installing a system? Joe Burrow without Zac Taylor? Look how Lamar Jackson has developed with offensive coordinator Todd Monken at the controls.
It’s time to celebrate system quarterbacks and game managers rather than demean them. Hurts doesn’t win without either, or without physically dominating players on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen was the Most Valuable Player — but not first-team All-Pro. Getty Images
The Josh Allen-Lamar Jackson conundrum
With the same media panel of voters, it didn’t seem to make much sense that Jackson would be voted the first-team All-Pro quarterback with Josh Allen winning the Most Valuable Player.
And yet it makes perfect sense if you take a few seconds and think about it.
Baltimore had eight players selected to the Pro Bowl aside from Jackson. Buffalo had Allen and no one else.
Jackson had better numbers – 4,172 yards passing, 41 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 915 yards rushing and four touchdowns and was deservingly first-team All-Pro. He led his team to a 12-5 record.
Allen passed for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions. He rushed for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led his team to a 13-4 record.
Allen did more with less in terms of a supporting cast.
In this case, splitting the All-Pro/MVP vote made perfect sense.
Super Bowl winner
Buffalo Bills: This time Allen and Co. not only get past the Kansas City Chiefs for a change, but deliver a first-ever Super Bowl win over . . . . believe it or not, the 49ers.
MVP
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati: The league is full of new era passing /running threats such as Jackson, Allen, Mahomes and last year’s rookie sensation Jayden Daniels of Washington. Operating from the pocket is getting to be a lost art. No one does it better than Burrow.
Offensive Player of the Year
Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati: At the other end of many of Burrow’s targets will be Chase, who had 127 receptions for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. He’s the gold standard at his position.
Look for Maxx Crosby (98) of the Raiders to have a big year with Pete Carroll as head coach. A.P. Photo
Defensive Player of the Year
Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas: This was my prediction a year ago as well. I’m making it again, believing a now-healthy Crosby paired with a Pete Carroll defense will be a perfect match.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas: Had 275 carries for 2,062 yards and 27 touchdowns at Boise State. Pencil the No. 6 overall pick out of Boise State in for at 1,500-plus yards and double-figure touchdowns as the central figure in the Raiders’ offense.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Abdul Carter, N.Y. Giants: Last time the Giants had a defensive end and the No. 3 overall pick with this much talent was Michael Strahan.
Coach of the Year
Kyle Shanahan, 49ers: Shanahan’s teams are expected to be good, so he’s usually not a realistic candidate. Last year’s 6-11 nosedive sets him up for a worst-to-first in the NFC West.
It could be a big bounceback year for 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and coach Kyle Shanahan. Getty Images
Comeback player of the year
Christian McCaffrey, 49ers: My heart tells me Dre Greenlaw will have a big year with Denver. My head tells me he’s more likely to break down than McCaffrey. Would love to be wrong on this one. Greenlaw’s one half of play – before going out again – was the highlight of the 49ers’ season.
Fearless 49ers forecast
Here’s a secret – the 49ers lost a lot of players they fully intended to lose and put their money back into stars such as Purdy, George Kittle and Fred Warner. If those three remain healthy and with a youthful infusion, 6-11 becomes 11-6 or better.
First coach fired
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland: The whole quarterback thing – signing Joe Flacco and then drafting Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders – is just plain strange. And not conducive to coaching stability.
Game of the Year
Week 4, Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs: Lamar Jackson thinks he should have won the MVP last season and Patrick Mahomes will be motivated to win another after stumbling in the Super Bowl.
The signing of Davante Adams immediately upgrades the Rams’ passing game for quarterback Matthew Stafford. A.P. Photo
Offensive moves that will mean the most in 2025
The Rams signed Davante Adams to pair with Puka Nacua. Matthew Stafford is the best pure passer Adams has had since Aaron Rodgers was winning MVPs with Green Bay. The Chicago Bears made a commitment to quarterback Caleb Williams by signing guard Joe Thuney, drafting 6-foot-8 tackle Ozzy Trapilo and signing center Drew Dalman in free agency.
Defensive moves that will mean the most in 2025
The New England Patriots paid top dollar (four years, $104 million, $63 million guaranteed) for defensive end Milton Williams. He’s more of a set-the-edge type than a pass rusher but will be difficult to move in a Mike Vrabel defense. Minnesota hopes to milk the last bit of football out of veteran defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, who were released by Washington and the 49ers, respectively.
Players under full-time injury watch
Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy lost his rookie season to a torn ACL and will replace Sam Darnold for a division-winning team. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott was limited to eight games when he tore a hamstring off the bone. Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga couldn’t stay on the field for the 49ers and now play for the Broncos.
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Ranking the impact of new NFL head coaches
1. Ben Johnson, Chicago; 2. Pete Carroll, Las Vegas; 3. Mike Vrabel, New England; 4, Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas; 5. Liam Coen, Jacksonville; 6. Aaron Glenn, N.Y. Jets; 7, Kellen Moore, New Orleans
Two-way Travis
The Jacksonville Jaguars took Travis Hunter with the second pick in the draft and appear intent on allowing him to play on offense and defense. Are they being sincere? Or will Hunter get the kind of token effort the Raiders gave Charles Woodson to be a two-way player?
Rodgers and Pittsburgh
Aaron Rodgers, even at 41, is the most talented passer the Steelers have had since Ben Roethlisberger. The question is if Rodgers can leave the circus behind and put up one last big year under Mike Tomlin.
