The NFL has imposed a fine of $5,628 on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts for donning cleats that did not adhere to the league’s uniform compliance rules regarding team colors, according to an insider familiar with the situation. This fine was not made public by the NFL and was revealed by someone who requested anonymity. The violation occurred during the Eagles’ recent 27-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers when Hurts showcased Air Jordan cleats in two different shades of green.
In response to the fine, the Nike subsidiary responsible for the shoes announced via social media that it would cover the cost on Hurts’ behalf, stating, “We’re paying the fine. You can’t ban greatness,” via a post on X.
Hurts explained that he initially intended to wear Jordan Columbia 11s for the game, but due to shipping delays, they did not arrive in time. He happened to capture some photos during a photoshoot while wearing mismatched cleats and decided to replicate the look in the game against the Steelers.
As of this week, Hurts mentioned his anticipation for the delivery of his Jordans, expressing hope they would arrive soon. Additionally, this isn’t the first occasion this season where Hurts has worn mismatched cleats. Back on October 28, during a match against Cincinnati, one of his green Air Jordan 4 PEs slipped off while running along the sideline. Because he had laced his shoes so tightly, he found it difficult to quickly put on a replacement and had to utilize a timeout to find an alternative, eventually switching to a white Jordan 11.
Reflecting on that game, he humorously remarked, “I had to go Jalen Two Shoes for a bit,” after the Eagles secured a 37-17 win over the Bengals. In the most recent game, Hurts wore one dark “Midnight green” cleat to match his uniform alongside a “Kelly green” cleat throughout the game, although he is known to frequently change his footwear at halftime.
