Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said his absence from the team’s recent White House visit was due to scheduling conflicts, dismissing speculation about his decision not to attend the celebratory event last month, as per Fox News.
Hurts, who was named Super Bowl LIX MVP after leading the Eagles to a dominant 40–22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, was noticeably absent when the team visited Washington, D.C., to mark their championship win.
“I wasn’t available,” Hurts told reporters on Tuesday. “I don’t think that’s pertinent. Everyone who went was available. They seemed to enjoy themselves.”
The quarterback declined to elaborate further. Ahead of the visit, Hurts had avoided confirming his plans, only offering a noncommittal “Um” before walking away from a media question, fueling speculation about his absence. Fox News had reported at the time that Hurts missed the trip due to unspecified “scheduling conflicts.”
Hurts also offered a lukewarm response earlier this year when asked about President Joe Biden attending Super Bowl LIX.
“He’s welcome to do what he wants,” Hurts said at the time.
His absence came alongside that of several other star teammates, including wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
Meanwhile, running back Saquon Barkley drew attention by spending time with former President Donald Trump at his New Jersey golf course the day before the White House event. Barkley then reportedly returned to D.C. aboard Air Force One with Trump.
Adding to public interest, Hurts later appeared at the Met Gala in New York the following week, raising questions about his availability.
The Eagles’ relationship with White House visits has been politically charged in recent years. In 2018, following their previous Super Bowl win, the team ultimately did not attend a planned White House event after Trump rescinded the invitation in response to players’ criticism of his stance on national anthem protests.
Other championship teams have taken a more traditional route. The Los Angeles Dodgers visited the White House weeks before the Eagles’ event to celebrate their World Series victory. Dodgers star Mookie Betts, who skipped a White House visit with the Red Sox in 2019, attended this year’s event.
