The NFL season immediately descended into chaos after Eagles’ defensive superstar Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting on Dak Prescott inside the first six seconds.
Carter, the best player on the Super Bowl champions’ defense, approached the Cowboys QB before the first snap of the game and appeared to spit in his direction.
The ref immediately decided to eject the player, announcing the news to the stadium and leaving millions of fans stunned as they watched the 2025 season opener.
The incident took place as Eagles trainers were tending to fullback Ben VanSumeren, who was injured on the game’s opening kickoff and ultimately needed to be carted off the field with a knee injury.
Taking to X, Stephen A. Smith summed up most fans’ thoughts by posting: ‘WTH did I just see? Jalen Carter — the Best Players on the @Eagles defense — just got thrown out the game before a freakin snap for SPITTING….SPITTING on @dak.
‘To hell with just an ejection. Suspend that man. How in the HELL could you do something like that? Inexcusable! Stupid! Selfish! #Damn!’
Jalen Carter (right) inexplicably spat at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott six seconds in
Carter approached Prescott during a break in play for Ben VanSumeren to receive treatment
Carter walks off the field with Eagles’ head of security Dom DiSandro after being ejected
Eagles legend Jason Kelce was a little more succinct, meanwhile, simply writing: ‘What in the f*** just happened.’
Good Morning Football host Kyle Brandt then revealed more information on the shocking series of events.
He took to X to tell fans: ‘I was standing next to the tunnel as Jalen Carter left the field. Big Dom was talking to him, Jalen was still saying nothing. Looked emotionless.’
Carter is in his third season in the NFL and enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, helping his team to lift the Lombardi Trophy with a win over the Chiefs in New Orleans.
Prior to his NFL career, he was a standout defensive tackle for the two-time national champion Georgia Bulldogs.
Off the field, though, he has endured a more controversial time. In January 2023 he was involved in a serious car crash that resulted in the deaths of university staffer Chandler LeCroy and football player Devin Willock.
Carter pleaded guilty to reckless driving after drag racing Bulldogs staffer LeCroy following the Bulldogs’ 2023 national title victory. LeCroy’s vehicle crashed, killing her and Carter’s teammate, Willock. Her blood-alcohol level was posthumously found to be above the legal limit.
Carter was given 12 months’ probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges
Georgia footballer Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy were killed in the 2023 crash
The now-Eagles star had previously been cited for traffic violations three times, once by Athens Police for traveling at 89mph in a 45mph zone.
Two months after the incident, an arrest warrant was issued for Carter for his involvement, with charges brought against him for reckless driving and street racing.
He pleaded no contest to the charges and was given 12 months of probation and a $1,000 fine, also completing 80 hours of community service.
Despite the controversy, he was selected No 9 overall by the Eagles in the 2023 NFL Draft.
