Eagles' Jalen Hurts Debuts 'My Cause, My Cleats...

By Jenn McGrawShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts donned custom cleats during the Black Friday game against the Chicago Bears. Hurts' cleats were designed by patients from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as part of the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" initiative.

A few weeks before the game, Hurts took a visit to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he visited and gifted three kids bags of Eagles merchandise, then sat down with them to design the cleats.

"There's a lot that comes with being a franchise quarterback, and one of the biggest perks is to be able to serve others, [and] to be able to show up and inspire," he said. "I think in the midst of inspiring others, those kids don't realize how much they inspire me. How much they encourage me."

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Hurts is spending his second season rocking cleats designed by CHOP patients. He's drawn to the inspiration he finds in the patients – their resilience – as he calls them superheroes for going through things he could never imagine.

"We shared a great time. We were able to scheme up some shoes that we will all debut versus the Bears. I can't wait for it. Jaws were dropping, and disbelief was all in their faces. They didn't even know what to feel when I told them that I'd be linking up with them before the game." Hurts said.

Each season, NFL players display custom cleats to elevate important causes and nonprofits for the "My Cause My Cleats" campaign. The initiative highlights the collective influence the NFL family has on communities across the world.

The Philadelphia Eagles always show out for the campaign, donning personal gear to support others in youth empowerment, health and disease awareness, and other causes they support. Though Hurts and the team debuted their cleats before an eventual loss to the Bears, their community involvement moment stood out.

"I had the experience of a lifetime, and I think it's bigger than the cleat." Hurts said.

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