Why does Jalen Hurts wear face paint? Philadelphia Eagles star follows Russell Wilson and Tom Brady with distinctive black marks

Jalen Hurts continues to follow in the footsteps of Russell Wilson and Tom Brady by wearing face paint during NFL games. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback will be hoping to lead his side to Super Bowl glory when he faces the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans on February 9. GettyHurts always has black face paint on his cheeks during games[/caption] Veteran Wilson wore the paint for the Pittsburgh Steelers this campaign while retired icon Brady regularly had black under his eyes too. This is a common thing among American football players but Hurts is the latest superstar QB to make it his signature appearance on the field. Here, talkSPORT.com takes a look at why he has followed Wilson and Brady in wearing face paint during games… Why does Jalen Hurts wear face paint? Hurts’ face paint is actually eye black. Eye black is a grease-like substance that he smears on the top of his cheeks, just below his eyes. The reason for this is thought to be to help reduce the glare from either the sun or bright stadium lights. The black colour absorbs the light and it helps stop any reflections going into the eyes of players on the field. Specifically for Hurts, this is important, as quarterbacks are always looking around for a free teammate to complete a pass. So any sort of infringement from the lights in their eyes would likely cause errors, incomplete plays or even sacks if a pass is delayed. Players in other positions also use the eye black to create a sort of ‘war paint’ to help with intimidation of opponents, as well as for its benefits with the light. Wilson always has the black marks under his eyesGetty Seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady also wore the black paint throughout his careerGetty Hurts has been wearing the black face paint all season, and he will almost certainly don it when he comes face-to-face with Patrick Mahomes. talkSPORT will live coverage of the Super Bowl from New Orleans. Will Gavin will be your play-by-play commentator, with NFL expert Gregg Rosenthal providing analysis. Our build-up will start at 10:30pm, and there will also be a watch-a-long on the talkSPORT End Zone YouTube channel. There will also be a swathe of exclusive interviews in the week leading up to the Super Bowl, and talkSPORT.com will also have build-up and all the reaction. To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Jan 29, 2025 - 12:19

Why does Jalen Hurts wear face paint? Philadelphia Eagles star follows Russell Wilson and Tom Brady with distinctive black marks

Jalen Hurts continues to follow in the footsteps of Russell Wilson and Tom Brady by wearing face paint during NFL games.

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback will be hoping to lead his side to Super Bowl glory when he faces the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans on February 9.

Hurts always has black face paint on his cheeks during games[/caption]

Veteran Wilson wore the paint for the Pittsburgh Steelers this campaign while retired icon Brady regularly had black under his eyes too.

This is a common thing among American football players but Hurts is the latest superstar QB to make it his signature appearance on the field.

Here, talkSPORT.com takes a look at why he has followed Wilson and Brady in wearing face paint during games…

Why does Jalen Hurts wear face paint?

Hurts’ face paint is actually eye black.

Eye black is a grease-like substance that he smears on the top of his cheeks, just below his eyes.

The reason for this is thought to be to help reduce the glare from either the sun or bright stadium lights.

The black colour absorbs the light and it helps stop any reflections going into the eyes of players on the field.

Specifically for Hurts, this is important, as quarterbacks are always looking around for a free teammate to complete a pass.

So any sort of infringement from the lights in their eyes would likely cause errors, incomplete plays or even sacks if a pass is delayed.

Players in other positions also use the eye black to create a sort of ‘war paint’ to help with intimidation of opponents, as well as for its benefits with the light.

Wilson always has the black marks under his eyes

Seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady also wore the black paint throughout his career

Hurts has been wearing the black face paint all season, and he will almost certainly don it when he comes face-to-face with Patrick Mahomes.

talkSPORT will live coverage of the Super Bowl from New Orleans.

Will Gavin will be your play-by-play commentator, with NFL expert Gregg Rosenthal providing analysis.

Our build-up will start at 10:30pm, and there will also be a watch-a-long on the talkSPORT End Zone YouTube channel.

There will also be a swathe of exclusive interviews in the week leading up to the Super Bowl, and talkSPORT.com will also have build-up and all the reaction.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.