If you want to start a fight in a South Philly sports bar, just bring up the Brotherly Shove. People have strong feelings about it. Some call it "boring." Others call it "unfair." But if you actually look at Jalen Hurts rushing stats, you’ll realize that the 1-yard plunge is only a tiny slice of what makes him a nightmare for defensive coordinators.
The guy isn't just a goal-line specialist. Honestly, he’s a strategic weapon that fundamentally breaks how NFL defenses are supposed to work. In 2025, we saw a massive shift in how the Eagles used him. They stopped treating him like a battering ram every single drive. Instead, they turned him into a precision instrument.
The 2025 Shift: Quality Over Quantity
For years, Hurts was basically a volume runner. He was racking up carries like a featured back. But the 2025 season changed the math. Hurts finished the regular season with 421 rushing yards, which is actually his lowest total since his rookie year in 2020.
Now, some critics saw that and said he was "losing his edge."
They’re wrong.
The context matters here. The Eagles brought in Saquon Barkley, who went on a tear, racking up over 2,000 yards in 2024 and continuing that dominance into 2025. When you have a guy who can get "dirty yards" on every play, your quarterback doesn't need to take 150 hits a year.
Breaking Down the Career Production
To understand where Hurts is going, you've gotta look at where he's been. His career arc is basically a masterclass in evolution.
- 2021: 784 yards, 10 TDs. This was the "I'm faster than you" phase.
- 2022: 760 yards, 13 TDs. The year he nearly won MVP.
- 2023: 605 yards, 15 TDs. The peak of the "Tush Push" era.
- 2024: High volume, but the efficiency started to fluctuate.
- 2025: 421 yards, 8 TDs. The "Efficient General" phase.
It's weird. His rushing yardage dropped, but his passer rating stayed high (98.49 in 2025). He’s learned to pick his spots. If the lane is there, he takes it. If it’s not, he trusts the check-down. That’s growth.
Why the Tush Push Still Matters (Even if Defenses "Solved" It)
You've probably heard the talking heads say the Tush Push is dead. It’s not. It’s just harder now. In 2022, the Eagles were converting at a ridiculous 90% clip. By 2025, the league-wide success rate for that specific play dropped as officials looked closer at the "push" and defenses got better at timing the snap.
But look at the Jalen Hurts rushing stats inside the 5-yard line. He still recorded 16 rushing touchdowns in the red zone during the 2025 campaign. Even when everyone in the stadium knows he's going to run, he still gets in.
There's a reason for this: leg strength. The story about Jalen Hurts squatting 600 pounds has become a meme at this point, but it's physically real. When he lowers his center of gravity, most linebackers just bounce off him.
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Success Rates That Don't Show Up on the Scoreboard
Most people only care about yards and touchdowns. But what about 3rd-and-short? Or 4th-and-1?
In 2024, the Eagles were 16 for 22 on fourth-and-1. That’s a 72.7% success rate. In 2025, while the raw rushing yards were down, Hurts remained second only to Josh Allen in rushing success rate among QBs.
Basically, he’s the best "muck" runner in the league. He gets the yard you absolutely need to have. That doesn't always look pretty on a fantasy football spreadsheet, but it wins playoff games.
Comparing Hurts to the Other "Runners"
Is Jalen Hurts as fast as Lamar Jackson? No way. Is he as physical as Josh Allen? Maybe, but Allen is 6'5".
Hurts is 6'1", 223 pounds. He’s built more like a bowling ball than a track star.
When you compare their 2025 seasons, it's fascinating. Lamar Jackson still cleared 1,000 yards. Josh Allen was still trucking people in the open field. Hurts, meanwhile, became the king of the "calculated scramble." He averaged 7.1 yards per attempt on his passes in 2025 because defenses were so terrified of him running that they left the intermediate middle of the field open.
He uses the threat of his legs to make his arm more dangerous.
The Playoff Monster
If there’s one thing the stats prove, it’s that Jalen Hurts saves his best running for the biggest games. Think back to Super Bowl LVII. He rushed for 70 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Chiefs.
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He still holds the record for most rushing yards in a Super Bowl by a quarterback.
In the 2025 postseason, even with the lower regular-season totals, he's still the guy the Eagles call on when the game is on the line. He’s already reached 63 career rushing touchdowns as of early 2026. To put that in perspective, he’s chasing Cam Newton’s all-time record of 75. At this rate, he could pass Cam by the end of next season.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Stats
The biggest misconception is that Hurts is "reliant" on the run. People think if you stop him from running, you stop the Eagles.
Actually, the opposite is true now.
In 2025, Hurts had a career-low in interceptions (6). He became a "safe" player. He’s not forcing the run anymore. If a defender cheats up to stop the scramble, Hurts just lobs it over their head to A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith.
His rushing stats are lower because the Eagles' offense is finally balanced.
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Actionable Insights for the Future
If you're watching the Eagles in 2026, stop looking for Hurts to lead the team in rushing yards. That's Saquon's job now. Instead, watch these three things:
- 3rd-and-Long Scrambles: Watch if he's sliding or diving. In 2025, he started sliding more to preserve his body. That’s a sign of a veteran who wants to play until he's 38.
- Goal Line Formation: If the Eagles are in "12 personnel" (two tight ends), the Tush Push is almost always coming. Even if it's "solved," it still requires three defenders to stop one guy.
- The "Check-Down" Run: Hurts has mastered the art of the 4-yard gain on 1st-and-10. It keeps the offense on schedule.
The era of Jalen Hurts as a 1,000-yard rusher is probably over. But the era of Jalen Hurts as the most efficient short-yardage weapon in NFL history is just getting started. He’s trading highlight-reel runs for championship-winning drives. And honestly? Philadelphia is perfectly fine with that trade.