U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester sent an inquiry letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell demanding answers regarding the league’s deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli protocols following Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’s recent medical diagnosis.
The medical situation involving Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has drawn congressional scrutiny, prompting U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester to demand answers from league leadership. Hurts was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli after experiencing a health scare during the team’s travel schedule.
According to the lawmaker’s inquiry, the sequence began when Hurts was cleated in the calf during a Week 4 loss to the Rams. Following a flight to London for a game against the Jaguars, an ultrasound identified a superficial blood clot in his calf. Conflicting reports indicated that the quarterback was hospitalized and advised to stay awake until kickoff as a precaution before playing in the game. A subsequent ultrasound days later revealed that the clot had moved, and further testing confirmed it had spread to both lungs.
Senator Blunt Rochester Pushes Roger Goodell on League-Wide Protocols
In her letter to the National Football League, Blunt Rochester raised personal stakes tied to the inquiry. The senator lost her late husband, Charles Rochester, at age 52 after a blood clot traveled to his heart and lungs following a torn Achilles tendon.
U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware has penned a letter to Roger Goodell seeking answers on the circumstances that led to JalenHurts developing deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli as well as clarity on league blood clot protocol. pic.twitter.com/XCa8O4DUnq
I write with concern regarding the recent medical situation involving Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and bilateral pulmonary emboli (PE)…Given the prevalence of blood clots and the risk factors athletes face, the public must understand how the National Football League (NFL) and its teams treat and manage this disorder.
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, via Senate
The lawmaker noted that blood clots affect more than 900,000 Americans annually. Because professional athletes face unique risk factors, she pressed Commissioner Roger Goodell for transparency on player safety measures.
Specific Demands Sent to NFL Leadership
The congressional letter outlines a series of direct questions regarding how teams handle vascular health. The inquiry requests details on whether the league maintains standardized procedures across all franchises.
- Whether the NFL enforces a league-wide protocol for detecting, preventing, and treating deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli, alongside the medical guidelines consulted in its creation.
- The specific standards and processes governing a player’s medical clearance when a clot is suspected or diagnosed, and the existence of any league-wide return-to-participation rules.
- The educational resources provided to players, coaches, and athletic trainers regarding the warning signs of vascular conditions.
- Measures implemented by the league to mitigate blood clot risks associated with long-distance air travel.
- Whether the league will conduct a thorough review of the Philadelphia Eagles’ handling of the situation, including who cleared Hurts to play after staying awake overnight and approved his transatlantic return flight from London.
Players Association Requests Investigation into Medical Oversight
The congressional push arrives amid broader questions regarding independent medical oversight in professional football. Observers have questioned whether the league should implement independent health protocols for blood clots similar to the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants utilized for concussion management over the past 17 years to counter team-level medical biases.
Meanwhile, the Players Association has formally requested a full investigation into the incident, holding the authority to initiate one under the existing collective bargaining agreement. While the Philadelphia Eagles and league officials have expressed expectation for a full recovery, congressional oversight powers tied to the league's broadcast antitrust exemption mean federal lawmakers can still demand accountability.