Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, and team owner Jeffrey Lurie played golf this week at Merion Golf Club with a group that included former President Barack Obama.
“He’s like an uncle figure out there,” Hurts said Wednesday. “President Obama. All-time leader. Great presence. I guess the word is, down to earth. I can only imagine that lifestyle and the different things that come with that. To see him out there, enjoying himself, talk a little trash, that was cool.”
However, Hurts wasn’t allowed to actually play golf because of his $255 million contract. Still, he enjoyed the experience of walking the course with the former president.
The Eagles are on a roll with three wins in a row, and Hurts joked that he would eventually outplay Obama on the golf course.
“I told him, you don’t want these problems just yet,” Hurts said. “His day will come.”
Hurts, who is 26 years old, mentioned that the only celebrity he still wants to meet is actor Denzel Washington.
Obama was in Philadelphia this week to support Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic presidential nominee.
Barkley, in his first season with the Eagles, said he took this rare chance to play golf with a president to ask Obama about leadership. He found out about the invitation last week from Lurie.
“It was probably one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in my life,” Barkley said. “Very personable. He’s awesome, to be honest. I got to spend about four or five hours with him and was able to do something I love to do, play golf.”
