Seven years after his decision to skip a visit to the White House caused an uproar, former Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins praised current Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts for carrying the torch.
Hurts, 26, was one of several Eagles players who was not present for a celebration of their victory in Super Bowl LIX at the White House on Monday, April 28. The event was still attended by Eagles stars like running back Saquon Barkley, head coach Nick Sirianni and team owner Howie Roseman.
In 2018, when Jenkins, 37, and a group of his teammates announced their plans to skip a White House ceremony after the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory — which was during President Donald Trump’s first term — the entire event was canceled.
“The team had framed the White House visit as optional,” Jenkins, who retired from the NFL in March 2022, wrote in a Substack post about Monday’s gathering. “But 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.
Jenkins argued that Hurts’ decision will open up the Super Bowl LIX MVP to increased media scrutiny and cultural responsibility.
“None of it will be easy,” Jenkins said. “He’s stepping into a territory where even the smallest misstep will be amplified … Leadership today isn’t just about leading a team. It’s about leading a conversation. And Jalen Hurts — whether he realizes it or not — just entered that conversation at the highest level.”
Jenkins added, “Jalen’s decision stands in opposition to a culture that often asks players to just ‘shut up and play.’ Instead, he’s choosing to lead — not just with his arm, but with his mind, his values, and his presence. It’s a risk. But it’s also an opportunity to become something much bigger than a champion.”
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As an athlete who has previously walked a similar path, Jenkins urged his readers to support Hurts if they agreed with his subtle show of resistance.
“If Jalen’s decision resonates with you, show him some love,” Jenkins said. “He’s going to need it — and I say that from experience. It’s easy to forget, in moments like this, just how heavy leadership can feel when the cameras are off and the headlines fade. A word of support, a moment of grace, can make a bigger difference than you realize.”
Jenkins also addressed Barkley, 28, who defended himself on social media after he was seen golfing with President Trump, 78, the day before the ceremony at the White House.
“It was disappointing, to say the very least but I understand that respect works both ways,” Jenkins wrote. “Each man has to walk his own path. But neutrality is not neutrality in times like these. And even silence becomes a statement.”
