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Breaking Down the Cryptic Jalen Hurts Tweet That May or May Not Have Been About the A.J. Brown Trade Report

Matt Schultz

By Matt Schultz

Published:

Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) after the anthem against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Jalen Hurts hasn’t tweeted since October, but this morning, just an hour after Adam Schefter reported that A.J. Brown was likely going to be traded to the Patriots after June 1st, the Eagles quarterback posted this:

What could this photo possibly mean? Can a riddle this complicated, this cryptic, even be solved? Surely this picture is packed with hidden, mysterious meanings (If you know Jalen, you know he possesses the awe-inspiring wisdom of an oracle who’s spent decades meditating atop the Himalayas, but wrapping one’s mind around his koans is anything but easy). How can we crack this code?

Below, I will give it my best shot. But first, before we can even think about discerning meaning – and thus tap into Jalen’s oracle-like psyche – we must first carefully map out exactly what we’re seeing. 

Breaking Down the Photo

The photo appears to show Jalen Hurts – or someone who looks strikingly similar to him.

In the photo, Jalen is shown wearing a hat.

Jalen’s face, it’s worth observing, is covered by shadow. 

Jalen seems to be wearing a dangly earring. 

Jalen’s face is covered in condensation. 

Dissecting the Clues in the Photo and What They Might Mean

Jalen’s Presence in the Photo:  Jalen is showing himself in the photo as a reminder that he, Jalen, is the Eagles QB. It’s also noteworthy that Jalen is alone in the photo – this is likely a metaphor for how it is lonely at the top. 

His Hat: All throughout history, hats have been used as metaphors for spirituality. In countless traditions found in every corner of the world, head coverings have been tied to religiosity, faith, and the lifelong quest to better understand the human condition. Jalen appears to be introducing that very idea here – that he’s on a spiritual journey, and where it will lead him, even he is unsure. 

We Don’t Know if He’s Sitting or Standing: This is intentional. The lack of information about his legs is likely a nod to the question of whether or not he will use his legs as a weapon this upcoming season. The answer, he’s telling us, is murky. 

The Use of Shadow: Jalen’s face is covered in shadow, which, in all likelihood, is meant to invoke the idea of “Shadow Brokers,” the powerful but hidden network of secret operators who are in charge of every aspect of modern society. Jalen is telling us as clearly as he can: There are things at play with this A.J. Brown situation that the average human mind could never comprehend – and that’s exactly the way these “Shadow Architects” want it. 

Jalen’s Earring: Jalen’s earring is dangling as a metaphor: As this A.J. Brown/Patriots trade rumor heats up, the 2026 Eagles season is literally “dangling” in the balance. 

Jalen’s Clammy Face: This is a nod to the way that the Eagles “clammed up” against the 49ers in the NFC Wild Card Game last season, and possibly a vow to not let it happen again. 

The Symbol on the Hat: The hat is donning a symbol of a fishing hook, which is meant to represent the attention and scrutiny Jalen knows he will be getting this season. It’s critical to note that there is no bait on the hook – that, of course, may be the point. With that choice, Jalen is telling us that, despite the fact that he is not asking to be under the microscope (the way bait invites fish to come and bite), he understands he will be anyway. 

The Use of Black and White: This is meant to literalize the binary contrast between those who like football and those who don’t. 

Sadly, each of these clues only leads to more questions – which is exactly how a mind as all-knowing as Jalen’s wants it. All we can do is hope that he leaves us more breadcrumbs soon, so we may try to understand what exactly is going on in his enlightened mind.

Matt Schultz

Matt Schultz is a comedy and sports writer from Philadelphia. He’s written extensively for ClickHole, The Onion, and Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco. His work has been featured in Vulture, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, and other publications. Much of his sports journalism can be found on college basketball websites that don’t exist anymore (PhilaHoops Heads rise up…)

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