Jalen Hurts skips Eagles' White House visit with President Trump
Jalen Hurts was among a group of Philadelphia Eagles who did not attend the White House on Monday when the team met with President Trump to celebrate their Super Bowl LIX win.
Before the ceremony, which began shortly after 4 p.m., a White House official said Hurts and other Eagles players who aren't attending missed the event due to "scheduling conflicts." Mr. Trump honored the Eagles on the White House's South Lawn.
During the Eagles' visit, Mr. Trump said Hurts was a "terrific guy and terrific player."
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie previously stated that celebrating the Super Bowl win over the Chiefs was an "obvious choice," but the White House visit was optional for the players.
The Eagles did not attend the White House after they won the Super Bowl in 2018. Mr. Trump canceled the visit a day before due to a dispute over the national anthem.
Which Eagles did not attend the White House?
The news that Hurts wasn't attending the White House came days after Hurts dodged a question at the Time 100 gala last week when asked about the upcoming visit. At the gala, a reporter asked the Super Bowl LIX MVP if he was planning on attending the White House. He responded with "Ummm" and did not answer the question.
The Eagles' QB was recently honored on TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2025 list.
Hurts wasn't the only prominent Eagle who skipped the White House visit. Among the Birds who weren't spotted at the White House include wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and most of the team's defense, including Zack Baun, Brandon Graham, Jalen Carter, Darius Slay, Quinyon Mitchell, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Nolan Smith, Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Josh Sweat and Jalyx Hunt.
There appeared to be a sizable number of the Eagles' roster who did not attend the White House.
Which Eagles went to the White House to meet with Trump?
Hours before the visit, Saquon Barkley responded to criticism over golfing with Mr. Trump on Sunday in New Jersey.
"Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand," Barkley wrote on X. "Just golfed with Obama not too long ago…and look forward to finishing my round with Trump! Now ya get out my mentions with all this politics and have amazing day."
Barkley was among the Eagles players, coaching staff and front office who attended Monday's ceremony at the White House.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, right tackle Lane Johnson, safety Reed Blankenship, Lurie and "Big Dom" DiSandro spoke during the ceremony.
Other players and coaches spotted included:
- General manager Howie Roseman
- Tight ends Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra
- Offensive linemen Cam Jurgens, Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson and Mekhi Becton
- Cornerback Cooper DeJean
- Safety Sydney Brown
- Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo
