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The Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback and reigning Super Bowl MVP Jalen hurts to be divided fans as he chose to skip the team’s festive white house visit in April.
Hurts was one of several Eagles players who chose not to join AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, Jalen Carter and Brandon Graham. But as Quarterback, Hurts’ absence was given special control. Hurts told journalists on May 20 that he did not go because he “was not available.”
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Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) talks with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football match against Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday 9 February 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Former Eagles star -quarterback Donovan McNabb, who says he has been mentoring since he came to Philadelphia, gave his reaction to his protégé’s absence in an interview with Pakinomist Digital. McNabb also suggested that Hurts’ absence was based on a decision.
“I don’t have a problem with it at all. I agree, I totally agree with him and the decision he made, it’s an adult man’s decision and he stuck with it,” McNabb said. “And for him his focus is again to get ready to get back to another Super Bowl.”
McNabb added that he would have made the same decision as evil.
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President Donald Trump Honor the Super Bowl Lix master Philadelphia Eagles in the White House of Washington, DC, April 28, 2025. (Josh Morgan-usa today via imagn images)
Hurts also raised eyebrows again when he attended Met Gala The following week after missing the White House.
Still, the vast majority of Eagles’ program list and coaching staff attended the White House and celebrated with Trump as well as the president’s daughter, Ivanka. These players included Star Running Back Saquon Barkley.
“It’s everyone’s choice,” McNabb said of the players who went. “You don’t have anyone else’s decision on what they made, it’s a decision. It’s a personal decision he made for both Jalen and for Saquon,” McNabb said.
“And again, after you have made your visit or whatever it may be, you will come back to focus on the current task and see if you can get the opportunity to be invited back to the White House.”
When Eagles won the Super Bowl back in 2018, the team decided not to join the White House. Trump lifted the invitation to host Eagles after several players said they would not attend the visit because of his previous criticism of national anthem protests.
Los Angeles Dodgers visited the White House several weeks before the Eagles did, to commemorate their World Series title. Mookie Betts, who skipped a visit in 2019 with Boston Red Sox, participated this year.
