If you've tuned into an Eagles game this season, you've watched star quarterback Jalen Hurts operate one of the league's most high-powered offenses.
But if you weren't paying attention to detail, you might be missing a trend that's happening in plain sight.
No, I'm not talking about Hurts' connection with lethal weapons like DeVonta Smith or A.J. Brown, his penchant for making big plays as a dual threat or his well-known "two-cheek sneak."
I'm talking about his Air Jordan cleats.
In each of the Eagles' first two games of the season, Hurts changed his cleats at halftime. In a Week 1 win over the Patriots, he started the game in a pair of white and black Jordan 10s before switching to a "Concord"-inspired pair of Jordan 11s.
In Philadelphia's Week 2 "Thursday Night Football" win over the Vikings, Hurts started the game in a pair of white Jordan 12s before, once again, reverting back to his "Concord"-inspired pair of 11s.
MORE: What did Jalen Hurts get his master's degree in?
It's common to see NBA players change shoes at halftime, especially if the first pair "had no buckets in them." But this isn't typically something you see out of NFL players and their cleats.
It will be interesting to see if this trend continues for Hurts, but how does he have so many pairs of Jordan cleats that he can rotate them mid-game? The Sporting News takes a closer look into the star QB's newest endorsement deal.
Jalen Hurts' Jordan Brand cleats, explained
Sneakerheads have surely taken notice, but Hurts has been rocking Jordan cleats dating back to late in the 2021 season.
He signed a partnership with the now-defunct sports equipment catalog Eastbay, which allowed him to essentially operate as a sneaker free agent, wearing any brand of his choice.
He played in countless pairs of retro Jordans — most notably pairs of 1s, 10s, 11s and 12s — all customized to fit the Eagles' color scheme.
You may have noticed his halftime cleat change during Super Bowl 57, as it was a brief talking point when he went from rocking his Jordan 11s in the first half to his Jordan 1s in the second half.
All of this was nothing new — until just before the start of the 2023 NFL season.
In August, Hurts officially signed a deal to become the NFL's next Jordan Brand athlete. The announcement was made on the brand's official "Jumpman23" Instagram account, posting a video hype video of Hurts that is narrated by one of Jordan's most famous ambassadors, rap artist Travis Scott.
“I’m excited and thankful to join the Jordan Brand," Hurts told Andscape's Aaron Dodson in an interview about his newest endorsement deal. "I share a lot of important qualities with the Jumpman: dedication to goals, commitment to excellence and values, and an unwavering sense of self-belief that not only drives me but inspires me to make an impact for the next generation.”
Hurts joins Cowboys star Dak Prescott and Panthers 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young as the only NFL quarterbacks to be sponsored by the Jumpman. Other current NFL stars like Raiders wideout Davante Adams and 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel are also Jordan Brand athletes.
The partnership means you can continue to see Hurts rocking retro Jordan cleats on the field — perhaps multiple pairs in a single game — for the foreseeable future.
The next question is: Can Hurts join Randy Moss as the only player in football history to receive his own Jordan signature shoe?
