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Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles Visit The White House Andrew Harnik/GettyImages

Eagles duo debunks 'political motif' behind Presidential commemoration snub

Originally posted on Inside the Iggles | By Gourab Saha | Last updated May 23, 2025 5:00 PM ET

The Philadelphia Eagles’ White House tradition has always been as unpredictable as a fourth-quarter Hail Mary. Think Joe Montana’s “Catch II” against the Packers—iconic, but never scripted. This year’s post-Super Bowl visit felt more like a missed extra point: routine for most, glaring for a few. While teammates posed on the South Lawn, two stars were notably absent. The whispers began immediately. Was this a silent protest? A locker-room rift?

Imagine a baseball pitcher skipping the World Series parade for a family reunion. Suspicious? Maybe. But in Philly, assumptions often overshadow facts. When Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown dodged the D.C. spotlight, critics spun theories pretty fast. Yet the truth, much like a well-executed flea-flicker, required peeling back layers.

The News: “I Wasn’t Available”

On April 28, roughly 30 Eagles players celebrated their Super Bowl LIX win at President Donald Trump’s White House. Missing were Hurts, Brown, and a dozen others. Hurts, the game’s MVP, faced immediate scrutiny. “I wasn’t available,” he stated Tuesday, his tone as steady as a 3rd-and-1 tush push. “Everyone who went, and was available, they seemed to enjoy themselves.” Brown echoed similar brevity.

“I had something personal going on with my family,” Brown claimed. No drama. No grandstanding. Just the unflinching pragmatism Philly fans adore. However, the absences revived ghosts of 2018, when Trump canceled the Eagles’ visit over anthem protests.

This time, the White House cited “scheduling conflicts,” but Saquon Barkley’s golf outing with Trump stole headlines. “Maybe I just respect the office,” Barkley tweeted, shrugging off critiques. Meanwhile, Hurts attended the Met Gala a week later, sparking fresh debates. Was this strategic evasion or genuine coincidence?

lol some people are really upset cause I played golfed and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT. Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago…and look forward to finishing my round with Trump ! Now ya get out my…
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) April 28, 2025

Legacy and Leadership: More Than a Game

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie had already set the tone: attendance was optional. For Hurts, leadership isn’t about photo ops. His MVP season mirrored Randall Cunningham’s 1990 magic—stats without swagger. Former Eagle Malcolm Jenkins, who skipped the 2018 visit, praised Hurts’ focus:

“Leadership is never optional. When you're the quarterback — the face of the team—your presence, or your absence, always says something. By choosing not to go, Jalen didn’t just make a personal decision. He made a public one.”

Trump, however, didn’t slight the absent quarterback. “Terrific guy and terrific player,” he remarked, nodding to Hurts’ playoff dominance. The praise felt like a referee’s late flag—unexpected but routine. Yet in Philly, where “no one likes us” is a badge of honor, the duo’s silence spoke louder than any podium speech.

What’s Next for the Birds?

The Eagles’ culture thrives on unity, not unanimity. Barkley’s President Trump roundtable and Hurts’ Met Gala glam prove this roster’s range. But with 12 players skipping the visit, could friction emerge? History says no. The 2004 Patriots weathered similar storms, prioritizing Lombardi Trophies over limelight.

Besides, Hurts’ legacy hinges on repeat titles, not RSVPs. As Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Credit belongs to the man in the arena.” For Philly, the arena is Lincoln Financial Field—not 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

In a league where every move is mic’d up, Hurts and Brown chose muted exits. Whether political or personal, their absence underscores a shifting NFL ethos: legacy isn’t forged in Rose Garden handshakes, but between the hashmarks. As Hemingway didn’t say, “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” But in Philly? They’re just stronger.

This article first appeared on Inside the Iggles and was syndicated with permission.

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