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Eagles’ Jalen Hurts sets the record straight on golf with Barack Obama

Sakege November 1, 2024

PHILADELPHIA − Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts called it “a blessing” to spend the team’s off day this week on the golf course with former President Barack Obama.

But Hurts didn’t actually play golf with the former president, while teammate Saquon Barkley did. Barkley, in fact, called it “one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had in my life.”

Hurts toured the course and said last year that Obama is one of six people he always wanted to meet and have dinner with.

But Hurts said over the summer that he had taken up tennis because he wasn’t allowed to play golf. On Wednesday, Hurts admitted it was due to a clause in his contract. So he had to watch as Obama talked some nonsense to him.

“Seeing him having fun and talking a little trash, it was cool,” Hurts said. “I told him I didn’t want these problems yet. I can’t play golf right now. Contractually, I can’t play golf. His day will come.”

Over the summer, Hurts said, “Mr. Lurie told me not to play golf. (It’s a) funny story, I’ll tell you another day.”

Hurts said Wednesday was not the day to reveal the story, but admitted he was on the five-year deal worth up to $255 million, at the insistence of Eagles president and CEO Jeffrey Lurie.

Still, Hurts said he enjoyed the day with Obama, Barkley and Lurie.

Hurts called Obama “kind of a guy figure out there.”

Then he added: “President Obama, an all-time leader, a great presence. I guess the word is ‘down to earth.'” “I can only imagine that lifestyle and the different things that come with it.”

As for meeting one of those people he always wanted to meet and what he learned from Obama, Hurts said, “I like to keep it as intimate as possible. I think it’s a blessing in my youth, to be able to establish the handful of people that I I would love to know and feel complete after that.

“I’ve met some and we’ve lost some to Father Time. The only one left is Denzel Washington. I have a lot of respect for those guys, and every time I’ve been able to talk to them, be in their presence, it’s always been a conversation fruitful. There is nothing meaningless. I feel that I left his presence a better person, a wiser person. Honestly, I hope to have the same impact on (others).

Barkley, who admitted over the summer that he had become an avid golfer after playing with teammate and backup QB Kenny Pickett, said he loved the experience, too.

Barkley said the group played at Lower Merion and was impressed with Obama’s play.

“He’s pretty good. He’s an athlete,” Barkley said. “Merion is not an easy place either.”

What was Barkley’s most important takeaway?

“He asked me a lot of interesting questions,” Barkley said. “He was great. He definitely did his research. He asked me questions about my family. The best thing I took away from my experience with him was how he treated people, from the caddy to anyone who came up to him, he would look them in the eye.

“He made sure to have conversations with them, asked them what their names were. When you’re at that level, and you still take the time to do it, it was genuine too. You could tell it was genuine. It inspired me.”

Barkley added that they stayed away from politics.

Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.