Eagles’ Veterans Day “Salute to Service” Game Turns Emotional Spotlight on Jalen Hurts’ Heart-Stopping Act of Generosity.QQ
Philadelphia, PA – November 11, 2025 — The Philadelphia Eagles turned their NovaCare Complex into more than just a practice field this Veterans Day — it became a living tribute to courage, service, and unity. As part of the team’s annual “Salute to Service” flag football game, more than 30 members of the USO and U.S. military suited up for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, playing where the two-time Super Bowl champions prepare every week.
Former Eagles standouts William Thomas and Jason Avant served as honorary coaches, while hundreds of fans, families, and service members filled the sidelines, waving flags and wearing camouflage-trimmed Eagles gear. For Avant, whose father and uncle both served in the Marines, the event was deeply personal. “It’s about gratitude,” he said. “About showing our veterans we see them, we remember them, and we honor them.”
But what no one expected was the moment that followed the national anthem — when quarterback Jalen Hurts stepped forward, took the microphone, and delivered a gesture that left the entire stadium in stunned silence.
Hurts announced he was donating eight custom-built smart homes to severely wounded U.S. veterans — and giving every disabled veteran present free season tickets for the rest of the Eagles’ 2025 season, complete with accessible premium seating.
“These men and women gave everything for our freedom,” Hurts said, his voice steady but emotional. “So giving them back a home — and a place in ours — is the least we can do. Every home we build is a thank-you written in bricks and love.”
The homes, valued between $500,000 and $700,000, are part of Hurts’ ongoing partnership with the Generosity Sports Foundation, which builds adaptive, energy-efficient housing for veterans injured during combat in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other post-9/11 missions. Each property is equipped with voice-controlled systems, wheelchair-friendly layouts, and solar energy, allowing recipients to live independently with comfort and dignity.
Hurts personally handed out symbolic keys to two veterans during the ceremony — including Staff Sgt. Rico Roman, a U.S. Army veteran and Paralympic gold medalist, who tearfully embraced the quarterback. “This isn’t just a house,” Roman said. “It’s hope — and it’s family.”
Head coach Nick Sirianni praised the moment as one of the proudest in his tenure. “What Jalen did today says everything about his character,” Sirianni said. “He leads by faith, by example, and by love. What he builds off the field is every bit as inspiring as what he does on it.”
Since 2022, Hurts’ initiative has helped fund over 100 smart homes nationwide, alongside mobility grants and recovery support for veterans. His additional gift of season-long tickets reflects his belief that gratitude shouldn’t end at the ceremony — it should continue every Sunday, with veterans sitting in the stands they helped defend.
As the Eagles celebrated under clear Philadelphia skies, one truth stood above all: this wasn’t just a game, and Jalen Hurts wasn’t just a quarterback — he was the heart of a city saying thank you.
