The frustrations of a lost season seemed to finally boil over on the Philadelphia Eagles sideline during Philadelphia’s season-ending blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night. A heated exchange between quarterback Jalen Hurts and tight end Dallas Goedert went viral late in the contest. Goedert appeared to yell and gesture at Hurts before turning his back and walking away after backup quarterback Marcus Mariota got in between the two teammates. Meanwhile, Hurts stayed stoic, seemingly barely reacting to the incident.
Here’s a look at that moment.
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 16, 2024
But Goedert had a different explanation for the incident after the game, telling reporters the discussion on the sideline was about a mistake he had made earlier in the game. “I could have messed up a big play to [DeVonta Smith] early in the game, I think that’s what it was,” Goedert said. “It was my fault, I missed the sign… I was a little frustrated with myself, not Jalen at all. Me and him have a great relationship, I don’t think we’ve ever had an argument at all.”
Whatever the root of the sideline interaction was, fans certainly took notice given the way Philadelphia’s season collapsed down the stretch. After starting 10–1, the Eagles lost five of six to close the regular season (including losses to the lowly Cardinals and Giants in Weeks 17 and 18) before getting demolished in by Tampa on Monday night. But several posters on social media took Goedert’s comments as a chance to defend Hurts from criticism.
