The start of the 2025 NFL regular season has brought some of the biggest celebrities in the world to Lincoln Financial Field. As the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles play host to their divisional rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, in an intense matchup.
With a ton of star power in the game, names like A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Saquon Barkley, and Dak Prescott were sure to grab the spotlight. However, almost all eyes were going to be on Philadelphia’s leader and Super Bowl MVP, Jalen Hurts. One of the more eyebrow-raising names attending the game was NBA legend Michael Jordan, who could be seen catching the action live at the stadium.
Jalen Hurts Is the Reason for a Rare Appearance From Michael Jordan
Despite his incredible popularity, Jordan makes few public appearances. The six-time NBA Champion is extremely private about his life, making any visit from the legendary superstar a sight to behold.
As a result, his presence at Lincoln Financial Field wasn’t a sight many expected to see. However, it soon became clear that his appearance was similar to the show’s star.
After he recorded the first of his two rushing touchdowns in the first half, Hurts did a celebration that the five-time NBA MVP was all too familiar with. A casual shrug that came to be known as the Jordan shrug in sports lexicon.
The connection between the two went deeper than that. Curious fans and sneaker aficionados didn’t take long to notice the shoes on Hurts’ feet. “Jalen Hurts starts the NFL season rockin’ new Air Jordan 11 PE cleats featuring his ‘Love Hurts’ tagline on the tongue.”
Jalen Hurts starts the NFL season rockin’ new Air Jordan 11 PE cleats featuring his “Love Hurts” tagline on the tongue 🦅🔥 pic.twitter.com/KuIlhT7F5X
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) September 5, 2025
His appearance came into a new light once NFL insider Adam Schefter dropped his report. As he wrote on X, “Michael Jordan was spotted at tonight’s Cowboys-Eagles regular-season opener and he is believed to be there as a guest of Philadelphia QB Jalen Hurts.”
Michael Jordan was spotted at tonight’s Cowboys-Eagles regular-season opener and he is believed to be there as a guest of Philadelphia QB Jalen Hurts, who is wearing new Air Jordan 11 “Love Hurts” sneakers and who did the MJ shrug after his first touchdown of the game.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 5, 2025
Additionally, he mentioned the two references that Hurts made to the legendary basketball player. “[Hurts] is wearing new Air Jordan 11 ‘Love Hurts sneakers, and who did the MJ shrug after his first touchdown of the game.”
Unfortunately for Jordan, the evening was a far more extended ordeal than he could have anticipated. Due to lightning in the area, the game was delayed for an hour, with over four minutes left in the third quarter when play resumed at 11:30 p.m. ET.
MJ waiting just like the rest of us… https://t.co/Qp7hXH0XTU pic.twitter.com/IUvYFhnKWa
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) September 5, 2025
The cameras caught one of the greatest athletes of all time waiting for a change in the evening’s proceedings, along with the rest of the crowd in attendance. But throughout three quarters, he had to be extremely happy with Hurts’s performance.
