While 2024 was all about the Philadelphia Eagles winning the Super Bowl, the team discovered a hidden secret: they have their backup quarterback of the future in Tanner McKee.
During the Eagles' second meeting with the Dallas Cowboys late in the season, Kenny Pickett got injured, and McKee was thrown onto the field after Pickett had replaced Jalen Hurts the previous week for his concussion. McKee stepped up with two touchdown passes and the Eagles blew out the Cowboys 41-7.
In the final week of the regular season against the New York Giants, McKee made his first career start, playing with the backups, as the Eagles still managed to pull out a 20-13 win over the Giants, with McKee throwing two additional touchdowns. McKee finished the season with a 66.7% completion percentage for 323 yards and four touchdowns in two games.
Despite Pickett being the backup for the postseason, the Eagles ended up trading him to the Cleveland Browns, which opened the door for McKee to be the backup. McKee shared with the media the excitement he felt when he found out he was going to be Hurts' back in 2025.
"I was very excited with what happened. I love Philadelphia. I love being here. I want to be here as long as I can. So it was obviously very exciting when Howie called me and told me the news. And obviously, just know they have a lot of trust in me to perform. And obviously if something does happen to (Jalen Hurts), I can move the ball and the offense in how it's supposed to be run. So that was great having that confidence from the top down."
Tanner McKee on the offseason decision at backup quarterback: "I was very excited with what happened. I love Philadelphia. I love being here. I want to be here as long as I can. So it was obviously very exciting when Howie called me and told me the news. And obviously, just know… pic.twitter.com/PJn4lan9PX
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) July 29, 2025
Is McKee the right man to be the backup QB in Philly?
It may not be a role many Eagles fans would discuss, but the most important position in football is the backup quarterback job. Hurts has a history of missing games here and there, as he has missed six games since 2021.
McKee plays a critical role in ensuring the Eagles have a solid backup, and there is a lot to be excited about. Commentary during the offseason on backup quarterbacks has mentioned, though, that McKee only played in two games in his career and faced bottom-end defenses with Dallas and New York.
It'll take more than a beatdown on the Cowboys and taking out the lowly Giants to prove that McKee is a great back. When he was on the field, he was accurate and rarely forced any bad passes that could have been intercepted. That's all anyone can ask of their backup quarterback is to protect the football and hand it off to the running backs.
If Hurts gets injured, there is some comfort in knowing that McKee is entering his third season and knows the offense well. Eagles' general manager Howie Roseman most likely received calls on McKee to trade for him, but he stuck to his guns and kept McKee.
There are a lot of position battles going on in training camp for the Eagles, but backup QB is not one of them. McKee is the man.
