In a moment few fans will forget, Jalen Hurts, the usually composed and unshakable quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, was seen visibly emotional during practice on Tuesday afternoon — and now we know why.
Just minutes earlier, Hurts had received the devastating news: Hulk Hogan, the legendary WWE icon who shaped generations of strength, resilience, and belief, had passed away.
Hurts, who grew up watching Hogan’s electrifying promos and iconic matches, said in an emotional locker room moment later that day:“His grit made me believe I could be more than a quarterback. He made me believe I could be a warrior.”
Teammates say Hurts quietly stepped away from drills and dropped to one knee in the end zone. For several minutes, he stayed there, helmet off, hands clasped — not in prayer, but in reflection.
“He was my silent mentor,” Hurts told reporters. “When I was down, I’d rewatch those old clips. The way he fought, the way he roared back when the odds were against him — it wasn’t just wrestling. It was everything I wanted to be.”
Coaches allowed Hurts a few minutes alone. What followed next was a spontaneous tribute: the entire offense broke their team huddle with the words, “Whatcha gonna do?!” — Hogan’s legendary line.
Sources inside the Eagles organization confirm that Hurts had long cited Hogan as a personal icon, even bringing up his influence in private team meetings and once gifting teammates retro Hulkamania shirts during preseason camp.
This wasn’t just fandom. This was fuel.
“When people see me fight for every yard, when I get up from a hit and keep driving forward — that’s Hogan in me,” Hurts shared. “He made me believe that leadership is about standing tall, even when you’re outnumbered.”
As tributes flood in from around the sports and entertainment world, none hit quite as hard as this raw moment from a rising NFL superstar.
Jalen Hurts may lead the Eagles on Sundays, but it was Hulk Hogan who once led a young boy from Houston to believe he was unstoppable.
And that legacy? It lives on — every snap, every scramble, every time Hurts refuses to quit.
Rest in power, Hulk. The field feels a little emptier without you.