Philadelphia, PA – June 9, 2025
It’s been six and a half decades — sixty-five long years — since an Eagle was crowned the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. The last time it happened, Dwight D. Eisenhower was in the White House, gas was 25 cents a gallon, and Norm Van Brocklin was slinging passes in kelly green en route to the 1960 NFL Championship. Since then? Nothing. Not Randall. Not McNabb. Not Wentz. Not even in the Super Bowl-winning 2017 season.
But that drought might finally end in 2025 — and not just because of one man, but because of two.
Enter Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley.
The Eagles’ dynamic duo is making an early case to do something no player has done in the franchise’s modern era: bring home MVP honors. And what makes this storyline even more compelling? The fact that either one — or both — might be good enough to do it.
Hurts, fresh off a Super Bowl win and another year of steady improvement, remains one of the league’s most respected dual-threat quarterbacks. His 2024 numbers were outstanding: 26 passing touchdowns, 6 rushing scores, and a passer rating that spiked when games were tight. His poise, leadership, and efficiency in the clutch have become trademarks. Betting markets currently list him at +1700 — not the favorite, but well within striking distance.
And then there’s Saquon.
Barkley didn’t just bounce back last season — he erased doubt with dominance. A jaw-dropping 2,504 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns, and a ground game that left defenses begging for mercy. He shattered records and was named Offensive Player of the Year. Now he’s in midnight green — and with a competent offensive line and a creative play-caller, the former Giant has the tools to make a serious MVP push. Odds makers still list him as a long shot (+5000), but his production speaks louder than Vegas ever could.
Together, Hurts and Barkley give Philadelphia something it’s never truly had: two legitimate MVP-caliber players sharing the same backfield. And while that could mean they split the spotlight, it might also mean they amplify one another’s brilliance.
The NFL hasn’t seen a running back win MVP since Adrian Peterson in 2012. And even fewer MVPs have come from systems as balanced and team-centric as Philadelphia’s. But history has a way of crumbling when the right players arrive at the right moment.
And this feels like that moment.
Of course, obstacles remain. Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes. Joe Burrow and Josh Allen are healthy. Christian McCaffrey continues to redefine versatility. But if the Eagles go on another deep run — and one of these two stars separates himself statistically — the MVP curse that has haunted this franchise for more than half a century might finally be broken.
So, will it be Hurts with the hero arc? Or Barkley with the comeback of a generation?
Only time will tell. But one thing is clear: for the first time in 65 years, Eagles Nation has reason to believe.
