Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are on a roll, setting their sights on the NFC’s top seed. On Sunday, they took another big step toward their goal, dispatching the Pittsburgh Steelers 27–13 to record their 10th straight win. Hurts was at the forefront of the triumph, showcasing one of his best performances of the year.
The 26-year-old quarterback completed 25 of 32 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 45 rushing yards and another score on the ground.
Yet, despite his on-field prowess, an unexpected and humorous discussion has emerged off the field. During a segment on ESPN’s Get Up, former NFL cornerback turned analyst Dominique Foxworth stirred the pot by suggesting Hurts benefits from “pretty privilege,” implying that his good looks sometimes overshadow any lingering criticisms of his game.
“Jalen Hurts is benefiting from pretty privilege,” Foxworth said, referencing Hurts’ charismatic postgame demeanor. “He got up at the press conference after that game acting like he’s Josh Allen. Look at this man, looking like Nino Brown with three thousand million trillion dollars worth of diamonds around his neck, acting like he just went for 400 yards for three weeks in a row. Man, he had one good week passing and everyone forgets it when he starts batting his eyes. I could see [Dan] Graziano in the meeting getting all uncomfortable, like he’s the best quarterback in the league.”
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Foxworth’s tongue-in-cheek commentary might have passed as just another hot take if not for a resurfaced clip from earlier this season. A fan dug up footage from Foxworth’s own ‘Foxworth Show’ podcast, where his wife, Ashley Manning, openly gushed over Hurts’ appearance.
In the clip, Manning joked that Hurts, known for his calm demeanor and polished presence at press conferences, could make anyone feel special just by complimenting their looks.
“I don’t care if anyone else in the world thinks I look nice,” Manning said during the podcast. “My daughters, they’re sweet, they tell me I look nice. But if Jalen Hurts happened to say anything and thought I looked nice…” she trailed off with a laugh. At this point, Foxworth interjected, gently teasing his wife. “Here we go,” he said with a grin, “We should put a clock on how long it takes you to mention him [Jalen Hurts].”
Manning then took her praise for Hurts further, noting that despite his young age, the Eagles quarterback carries himself with an air of maturity both on and off the field. “You know what’s interesting about Jalen Hurts?” she continued. “Obviously I’m not saying he looks old in a bad way, but he looks mature.” Foxworth agreed that Hurts’ composure isn’t just physical—he’s mature from a football standpoint as well, and that maturity is reflected in his decision-making, the people he keeps around him, and the way he leads his team.
In the lighthearted exchange, Manning compared Hurts to other young athletes. She acknowledged that Colorado Buffaloes standouts Shedeur and Shilo Sanders are handsome young men, but insisted they look like “babies” compared to Hurts. “I can look at Jalen Hurts—even though he’s a baby too—and he looks mature,” Manning said, implying that Hurts’ overall presentation makes him appear more seasoned and thus more appealing.
The entire conversation, though laced with humor, underscores a subtle point about public perception and athlete image. Hurts, riding a wave of NFL success, has captivated fans not only with his on-field heroics but also with his confident, poised presence off it.
Foxworth’s comments about “pretty privilege” highlight how aesthetics and persona can shape narratives in the sports world, for better or worse. Meanwhile, Manning’s candid admiration exemplifies the broader public fascination with Hurts, who seems to have found a balance between athletic excellence and personal polish.
As for Hurts, he continues to let his performances do the talking. With the Eagles currently eyeing another key victory, this time against the Washington Commanders in Week 16, he has the opportunity to solidify both his team’s playoff position and his own standing among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. Whether or not he’s benefiting from “pretty privilege,” Hurts has shown that he’s more than just a handsome face—he’s a leader, a competitor, and a rising star whose charm and skill set keep Philadelphia soaring.
Fans will be tuning in this Sunday (1:00 p.m. ET, FOX) to see if Hurts and the Eagles can extend their win streak, and to witness, yet again, the confident poise of one of the NFL’s most intriguing young quarterbacks.
