NFL Draft prospect Jerry Jeudy wears a Star Of David necklace because his nickname is ‘Jeu’
(JTA) — University of Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, a top NFL prospect, wore an interesting accessory to a news conference at the league’s scouting combine: a Star of David necklace.
Jeudy, 20, told reporters that he was wearing the Jewish star because his last name is Jeudy and “people sometimes call me Jeu,” pronounced like Jew, for short. But, he clarified, “I’m not Jewish though.” (There are only a few Jewish football players in the NFL, notably Julian Edelman, a top wide receiver for the New England Patriots, and Mitchell Schwartz, a Pro Bowl lineman for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.)
The first-team All-American, who is forgoing his senior year at Alabama to enter the pro draft in April, later tweeted an apology to anyone who found his necklace offensive.
Don’t mean no disrespect to the Jewish people! I’m sorry to the people who take my chain offensive!!
— JJ⁴ (@jerryjeudy) February 25, 2020
Twitter did not seem to be offended; rather they loved his explanation. Many began joking about Jeudy’s affinity for the Jewish people.
This HAS to be Jerry Jeudy’s 1st NFL TD celebration, right?? ? pic.twitter.com/uxlidw92ys
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) February 25, 2020
*In Chapelle’s Show race draft voice*
“We, the Jewish delegation, select Jerry Jeudy.”
?????????? https://t.co/uBd3ZXjL8K
— Sir Ted Lasso (@theodorelasso) February 25, 2020
@jerryjeudy ✡️✡️✡️ https://t.co/M3nnbpJ7aA pic.twitter.com/GLbgWPiCU4
— Evan Laufer (@TheEvanLaufer) February 25, 2020
Plus, this is not Jeudy’s first time wearing the necklace. He’s worn it in previous Instagram posts.
The post NFL draft prospect Jerry Jeudy wears a Star of David necklace because his nickname is ‘Jeu’ appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you move on, I wanted to ask you to support the Forward’s award-winning journalism during our High Holiday Monthly Donor Drive.
If you’ve turned to the Forward in the past 12 months to better understand the world around you, we hope you will support us with a gift now. Your support has a direct impact, giving us the resources we need to report from Israel and around the U.S., across college campuses, and wherever there is news of importance to American Jews.
Make a monthly or one-time gift and support Jewish journalism throughout 5785. The first six months of your monthly gift will be matched for twice the investment in independent Jewish journalism.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO