Teammates Jalen Hurts and Dorian Thompson-Robinson Share Chess Mentor Before Eagles Trade

The Philadelphia Eagles made a trade this month that not only brought quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Dorian Thompson-Robinson together as teammates but also revealed an interesting connection between the two players – a shared chess mentor.

Thompson-Robinson shared during an appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” that he and Hurts had both worked with a chess mentor named Seth Makowsky, who was brought in by coach Chip Kelly at UCLA to teach quarterbacks about chess. Thompson-Robinson took the reins of the chess lessons and now Makowsky works with a variety of athletes, including Olympians and NFL quarterbacks.

Thompson-Robinson explained how he believes chess can help quarterbacks make better decisions on the field, stating that every move in chess is a decision that carries weight, much like the decisions a quarterback must make during a game.

The chess advice Thompson-Robinson shared with Hurts is to remember CDP – control the center, develop pieces, and protect the king. He related this advice to football by emphasizing the importance of protecting the ball (the king), developing players to make plays, and controlling the center of the field.

The trade that brought Thompson-Robinson to the Eagles involved sending quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft pick. Thompson-Robinson now joins Tanner McKee behind Hurts on the Eagles’ depth chart.

Hurts, who led the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, has already reached out to Thompson-Robinson to welcome him to the team. Thompson-Robinson expressed his admiration for Hurts and his professionalism both on and off the field.

Despite being only one year younger than Hurts, Thompson-Robinson has looked up to the former Alabama quarterback for some time, particularly admiring his transition from Alabama to Oklahoma and his success in both programs.

Thompson-Robinson is excited to join the Eagles and be part of their winning culture, as the team had a successful 2024 season while the Browns struggled. He looks forward to learning from Hurts and competing with him to improve his own game.

Overall, the trade that brought Thompson-Robinson to the Eagles has not only united two talented quarterbacks but also revealed a unique connection through their shared chess mentor.