Since taking over for Carson Wentz during the 2020 season as a second-round rookie, Jalen Hurts has remained the face of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Hurts has led Philadelphia to the playoffs every year of his career as the full-time starter, establishing himself as one of the best two-way quarterbacks in the game and one of the most proven playoff performers as a Super Bowl champion.
Still, depth is always key in the NFL. If Hurts were to miss time, the Eagles have a solid backup quarterback who has even shown flashes of long-term potential.
Here’s what to know about the Eagles’ QB2 behind Jalen Hurts.
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Who is the Eagles' backup quarterback?
The Eagles' backup quarterback is Tanner McKee. In the past, the team has opted to keep a more recognizable name with starting experience as Hurts' backup, from Marcus Mariota to Gardner Minshew, but the 2025 season broke that trend.
McKee was drafted by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He did not make an appearance during his rookie season, but the former Stanford Cardinal did make his NFL debut during the 2024 season, coming in for the Eagles in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Since then, McKee has started both of Philadelphia's Week 18 games between 2024 and 2025, as head coach Nick Sirianni opted to rest Hurts and his starters ahead of the playoffs. McKee has benefitted from that with some playing time; in 2024, he threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 18 win over the New York Giants, and in 2025, he went for 241 yards, one touchdown and an interception in a loss to the Washington Commanders.
While the Eagles did bring in a veteran quarterback last offseason, they've been high on McKee's potential despite having a locked-in QB1, allowing the 25-year-old some key backup opportunities over the last few years.
MORE: Get to know Jalen Hurts’ family, including his girlfriend, Bry Burrows.
Eagles QB depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Jalen Hurts |
| 2 | Tanner McKee |
| 3 | Sam Howell |
Hurts is QB1 in Philadelphia and likely will be for years to come, having already brought the Eagles a Super Bowl title and another appearance.
McKee is under contract through the 2026 season and will likely remain the top backup to Hurts until then. While McKee has been considered a trade candidate previously as a quarterback who could offer some cheap upside in the right opportunity, nothing has ever materialized for the Eagles.
The Eagles' QB3 is Sam Howell, the former Commanders starter in 2023 who has since returned to a backup role. Howell, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by Washington, had an elite college career at UNC and threw 21 touchdown passes as the Commanders' starter during the 2023 season. However, because he also threw 21 interceptions that year, he hasn't had many opportunities since.
Howell was the Seahawks' backup to Geno Smith during the 2024 season, then was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in the 2025 offseason. In August, the Vikings then traded him to Philadelphia along with a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Howell was beat out by McKee for the top backup job in Philadelphia, and he has not appeared in a game during the 2025 season.