• Jalen Hurts skipped the White House celebration following the Eagles' Super Bowl victory.
• Scheduling conflicts were cited as the reason for his absence.
• Less than half of the team attended the event with President Trump.
• Trump praised Hurts despite his absence, calling him a "terrific player."
• Other notable absences included A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was notably absent from the White House reception honoring the team's Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, which ended with a score of 40-22. A White House official stated that Hurts, among other players, had "scheduling conflicts" preventing their attendance on the day of the ceremony, which President Trump used to applaud the team's success, according to Newsweek and The Hill.

Hurts' absence was felt during the celebration, where President Trump recognized the Super Bowl MVP, referring to him as a "terrific guy and terrific player." Trump's comments were made in front of an audience filled with Eagles fans and Pennsylvania officials, indicating that the visit still held significant fanfare despite the players who chose not to attend. This situation mirrors a previous incident in 2018 when the Eagles did not visit the White House after their first Super Bowl win due to a conflict regarding national anthem protests, according to BBC and HuffPost.

In addition to Hurts, several other Eagles stars including A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jalen Carter also missed the event due to the same scheduling issues. Trump, while noting Hurts’ absence, remarked on the professionalism and talent of the team overall, reinforcing the significance of their playoff journey and victory. Additionally, some players received online support from fans for their decision to skip the ceremony, highlighting mixed sentiments about the political implications of such visits, according to HuffPost and The Hill.

The Eagles’ visit to the White House is part of a long-standing tradition where champions are honored at the executive mansion. However, the context of sporting events and political dynamics surrounding these visits continues to evolve. The lack of enthusiasm for such ceremonies has been evident, with the circumstances surrounding the Eagles reflecting ongoing debates about the intersection of sports and politics, according to Newsweek and BBC.