Eagles' Jalen Hurts sets golf record with Barack Obama

PHILADELPHIA − Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts called it “a blessing” to spend the team’s day off 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 even called it “one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had in my life.”

Hurts ran 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 last summer he started playing tennis because he wasn’t allowed to play golf. Hurts admitted on Wednesday that it had to do with a clause in his contract. So he had to watch as Obama spoke some nonsense to him.

“To see him out there enjoying himself and talking some trash, that was cool,” Hurts said. “I told him he didn’t want these problems yet. I can’t play golf right now. By contract, 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 that day to reveal the story, but he did admit it was in the five-year contract worth as much as $255 million at the insistence of Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie.

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

Hurts called Obama “kind of an uncle figure out there.”

He then added, “President Obama, an all-time leader, a great presence. I think the word is ‘down-to-earth.’ I can only imagine that lifestyle and the different things that come with it.”

About 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 just a blessing in my younger days, to have the A handful of individuals that I would like to meet, and then be somewhat complete.

“I’ve met a few, and we’ve lost a few 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, If I am in their presence, it has always been a fruitful conversation. There is nothing aimless about it. I feel that I have left their presence a better person, a wiser person. to have.

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

Barkley said the group played in Lower Merion and he 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 biggest takeaway?

“He asked me a lot of good questions,” Barkley said. “It was cool. He definitely did his research. He asked me questions about my family. The coolest thing I took away from my experience with him was how he treats people, from the caddy to everyone who came up to him, he she looked at her eye.

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

Barkley added that they stayed away from politics.

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