

Peyton Manning’s quarterback rankings often spark debate and even ignited a particularly personal reaction from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, leading to the two-time Super Bowl champion to skip naming a Top 5 in 2025.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, known for his impressive career in the era of Tom Brady’s New England Patriots dynasty, revealed how one name missing from his famous top five triggered an immediate response.
Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are warned by Lamar Jackson about what is going to happen next season
“Jalen Hurts texted me like 20 minutes later, ‘I didn’t make your list,’ and now Jalen’s mad at me,” Manning recounted at Fanatics Fest in 2024, after ranking Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, and Josh Allen ahead of the Philly hero.
“So, no list today,” Peyton hilariously quipped, keen to avoid the ire of his peers ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 NFL season and particularly Hurts after his quiet yet firm reminder of his status.
However, Manning, who has spoken highly of Hurts in the past, knows him through his time at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy meaning he does give the Eagles’ star his flowers.
“Jalen came twice,” Peyton said. “And you definitely just saw what a natural leader he was.
“Quiet, confidence, just the way he carries himself. You see why people want to follow him.”
Jalen uses NFL snubs as fuel for fire
Despite being overlooked in multiple offseason rankings including NBC’s Chris Simms, who placed him behind a Jayden Daniels, and a Philadelphia radio station excluding him from a Top 11 local athletes list – his performance continues to challenge doubters.
The snub might have given Jalen extra fuel ahead of the previous campaign as the dual-threat quarterback went on to lead the Eagles to Super Bowl LIX victory over Mahomes with a 40-22 win last season against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The 26-year-old was voted Super Bowl MVP on February 9 for his efforts, which included 221 passing yards for two touchdowns on 22 attempts; as well as an extra 72 rushing yards and additional touchdown on 11 carries.
Mahomes, meanwhile, threw two interceptions including a pick-six and was also sacked six times on the night in New Orleans as he missed out on a chance for a historic threepeat.
In the wider season, he produced 2903 passing yards for 18 touchdowns and also added an extra 630 rushing yards for 14 touchdowns throughout the 2024/25 NFL regular season.
So with his status now undeniable considering his Super Bowl ring and Super Bowl MVP honor, he now turns his attention to defending his reign as the champion of the league in the 2025/26 campaign.
He will do so at the Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, September 4 as the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East, with kick-off booked from 20:20 ET/17:30 PT live on NBC and Peacock.
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