Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II might not be the best guy to share a secret with if you want to keep it safe.
The lineman appeared to inadvertently confirm the Browns are the mystery team that will face the Philadelphia Eagles to open the 2024 NFL season in São Paulo, Brazil. Set for Friday, Sept. 6, it will be the first NFL game in South America.
The Eagles were announced as the game’s host team in early February, leaving everyone to wonder who they would play. The Browns emerged in rumors just a couple of weeks later, but those reports remain unconfirmed.
But Hurst might have given fans the answer. Hurst, who recently re-signed with Cleveland, appeared Monday on ESPN Cleveland’s show Cleveland Browns Daily to talk about his new deal.
The talk turned to how Hurst and the rest of the defensive line should have a trip together to bond. Hurst was asked where they’d go if he were organizing the trip.
“Well, I mean we are playing in Brazil this year. We could just do a little Rio trip out there,” Hurst said.
Shoutout to Mo Hurst for spilling the beans! 🐶 https://t.co/L3mqhDeLhL
— Nick Karns (@karnsies817) March 19, 2024
It’s possible that Hurst, like everyone else, had just heard the rumors about the Browns heading to Brazil and jokingly threw that into his conversation. But his response seemed genuine, and he mentioned it as if everyone already knew all the details.
If the Browns are headed to South America, they need a hype post to match the one the Eagles produced when they were announced.
🇺🇸Philadelphia Eagles 🤝 First-ever NFL game in South America. Brazil, we’ll see you soon!
🇧🇷Philadelphia Eagles 🤝 O primeiro jogo da NFL na América do Sul. Nos vemos em breve Brasil! pic.twitter.com/bMdZNEaElT
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 5, 2024
The game will mark the first time an NFL team has opened its season on a Friday night in more than 50 years.
Some fans gave Hurst a shoutout for apparently confirming the rumors, while others wonder how that slipped out, or even why it had not already been revealed.
Browns DT Mo Hurst just leaked that Cleveland is playing Philadelphia on Friday Night to open the season 👀 https://t.co/CPPmIvxJGB
— Free Agency Frosty (@FrostyTalksFB) March 19, 2024
If this is true, I don’t know if he was supposed to tell everyone lmao https://t.co/g9k4XWwEWj
— Nick Burns (@burnzy437) March 19, 2024
Goddell about to take a draft pick away from the browns for this😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/ntTQMeritN
— 🧀Chris🧀 (@SeeColes) March 19, 2024
Uh oh someone let it slip https://t.co/RsI7ODHKK3
— matt hauck (@m_hauck_CLE) March 19, 2024
UPDATE: Hurst tweeted after his comments made news that he didn’t have confirmation about the trip to Brazil, but it still would not be a shock if and when the news is eventually confirmed.
I have 0 confirmation that we’ll be playing in Brazil, just excited at the possibility of being one of the first teams to do so! Would be happy lining up with this team anywhere!!
— Maurice Hurst II (@mohurstjr) March 19, 2024
[Nick Karns; ESPN Cleveland]
