Key Takeaways:
– Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts supports women thriving in the workforce.
– Hurts rebuts Harrison Butker’s commencement speech, which implied women are most fulfilled as homemakers.
– Butker’s comments spurred widespread criticism, even among Benedictine College’s affiliate nuns.
– NFL’s Pro Football Focus ranks Hurts as No. 9 quarterback for 2024.
– Former Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce stays involved with the team post-retirement.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts recently took to Instagram to voice his support for women in the workplace. His action comes as a direct response to controversial comments made by Harrison Butter, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker, suggesting women might find more fulfillment as homemakers.
Strong Advocate for Female Empowerment
In stark contrast to Butker’s perspective, Hurts, whose super-agent is Nicole Lynn, maintains a firm belief in the competency and fulfillment of women in the workforce.
Taking umbrage to Butker’s controversial words, Hurts said, “I’m here advocating for it. Not only in football but in every situation.” The quarterback’s actions reflect his words, as seen by the female-led team around him.
Contradicting Butker’s Comments
The controversy began with Butker’s commencement address at Benedictine College, where he suggested that women would be more enthusiastic about planned marriages and future children than their professional careers.
Hurts, however, believes everyone deserves recognition for their hard work regardless of their gender. “And I know women who do that daily, but they don’t get the same praise as men – they don’t get the praise that they deserve,” Hurts pointed out in a separate conversation with Sports Illustrated.
Backlash against Butker’s Perspective
Reactions to Butker’s speech have been largely negative, with widespread denouncement across diverse societal sections. The nuns from Mount St. Scholastica issued a statement via Facebook declaring Butker’s viewpoint didn’t align with their belief, nor represent the vision of Benedictine College’s founders.
Their statement read, “One of our concerns was the assertion that being a homemaker is the highest calling for a woman…These women have made a tremendous difference in the world in their roles as wives and mothers, and through their God-given gifts in leadership, scholarship, and their careers.”
Jalen Hurts’ Standing in the League
Despite this controversy, Hurts is making strides in his career. Pro Football Focus listed Hurts ninth in their ranking of NFL quarterbacks for the 2024 season. Enriching his supporting team through a costly off-season spending spree, the Eagles are hoping for a repetition of his 2022 performance when they reached the Super Bowl.
Kelce’s Role Post-Retirement
While Hurts continues to thrive on-field, retired All-Pro center, Jason Kelce, remains connected with the Eagles. Despite retiring earlier, Kelce can regularly be spotted at the team’s headquarters. According to him, staying engaged with the team keeps him abreast of game changes, making it a win-win situation as it also feeds his post-retirement role as an analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
Staying involved with football will provide Kelce a competitive edge in his new role whilst also assisting the Eagles’ next-gen players like Cam Jurgens transition into their new roles. With footballers like Hurts and Kelce actively involved in advocating for positive societal change, the NFL proves to be more than ‘just a game’.