Six seconds. That is all it took. Usually, the NFL season opener is about the pomp, the circumstance, and that shiny new Super Bowl banner hanging in the rafters. But when the Philadelphia Eagles met the Dallas Cowboys to kick off the 2025 season, the headlines didn't stay on the scoreboard for long. Instead, everyone was talking about how Jalen Carter spit on Dak Prescott before the first offensive snap even happened. It was bizarre. It was gross. And honestly, it was one of the fastest ejections in the history of the league.
You’ve probably seen the clip by now. The opening kickoff happens, there's a quick injury timeout because Ben VanSumeren got dinged up, and the players are just milling around. Then, out of nowhere, Carter and Prescott are nose-to-nose. A second later, Carter leans in and launches a loogie right onto Dak's jersey. The ref, Shawn Smith, was standing right there. He didn't even hesitate. Flag up, thumb out. Carter was gone before he even broke a sweat.
The Loogie Heard Round the World
So, why did a Pro Bowl defensive tackle decide to sabotage his night six seconds in? If you ask Dak Prescott, it was a total misunderstanding that turned ugly. Dak told reporters after the game that he was just doing what football players do—he spit on the grass. He wasn't aiming at anyone; he just didn't want to spit on his own offensive linemen.
But Jalen Carter didn't see it that way.
Apparently, Carter thought Dak was "trolling" him or trying to mess with the Eagles' defense. He reportedly asked Dak, "You trying to spit on me?" Dak tried to explain he wasn't, but things got "colorful," as Dak put it. Carter lost his cool. He reacted. And in the NFL, the second guy always gets caught. Except this time, it wasn't just a 15-yard penalty. It was a straight-up disqualification for a "non-football act."
📖 Related: Shedeur Sanders Draft Room: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The Eagles had just finished celebrating their Super Bowl LIX win. The energy in Lincoln Financial Field was electric. Then, their best interior pass rusher walked off the field with his helmet in his hands while the home crowd sat there in stunned silence. It was a massive letdown for a guy who has been trying to rebuild his reputation since his days at Georgia.
Discipline and the $57,000 Fine
The fallout was pretty swift. The NFL doesn't play around with the "disgusting act" stuff anymore. They’ve been putting a huge emphasis on sportsmanship, and this was the ultimate test case. A few days after the game, the league handed down a fine of $57,222. That’s basically one full game check for Carter.
Here is the weird part about the suspension, though. The NFL technically suspended him for one game, but they ruled it as "time served" because he was ejected so early in the Cowboys game. Since he didn't play a single snap, the league decided that was punishment enough in terms of missed time. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, basically said they weren't going to fight it. They just wanted to move on to the Week 2 matchup against the Chiefs.
- The Fine: $57,222 (One game check)
- The Penalty: 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct
- The Result: Automatic ejection and a "served" one-game suspension
Nick Sirianni was visibly frustrated on the sidelines when it happened. You could see him getting into it with defensive line coach Clint Hurtt. It’s a tough spot for a coach. You love the "dog" in a player like Carter, but you can't have him missing 59 minutes and 54 seconds of a rivalry game because he couldn't ignore a little spit on the grass.
👉 See also: Seattle Seahawks Offense Rank: Why the Top-Three Scoring Unit Still Changed Everything
Is This a Maturity Issue for Carter?
We have to be real here. This isn't the first time Jalen Carter has had "discipline" attached to his name. Last season, he had three different unnecessary roughness penalties. He even got benched for a bit because of some "in-house" issues Sirianni wouldn't elaborate on.
When he was coming out of Georgia, the talent was never the question. Everyone knew he was a beast. But the off-field concerns—specifically that tragic car crash—made some teams pass on him. The Eagles took the gamble at No. 9, and for the most part, it’s paid off. He was a huge reason they won the ring. But "Spitgate" brings all those maturity questions back to the surface.
Dak Prescott actually took the high road afterward. He said he felt sorry for the guy because everyone wants to play in the opener. But he also made it clear: he didn't start it. "I wouldn't spit on somebody," Dak said. "I'm damn sure not trying to spit on you." It’s a classic case of a veteran player knowing exactly how to get under a younger player's skin without actually breaking a rule.
What This Means for the Eagles Moving Forward
The Eagles actually won that game 24-20. Jalen Hurts carried the load, and the defense stepped up even without their star tackle. Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo had to play way more snaps than they planned for, but they held the line.
✨ Don't miss: Seahawks Standing in the NFL: Why Seattle is Stuck in the Playoff Purgatory Middle
If you're an Eagles fan, you're probably worried about the "bulleye" on Carter's back now. Every offensive lineman in the league knows they can get to him. If a little spit from Dak can cause a meltdown, what’s a guy like Landon Dickerson or Zack Martin going to do to him mid-game? Carter has to realize that his intensity is his best weapon, but his temper is his biggest liability.
The league precedent is now set. If you spit, you’re gone. No warnings, no second chances. The NFL considers it a "non-football act," and that carries the heaviest weight. Carter apologized to his teammates and the fans, promising it wouldn't happen again. For the Eagles to repeat as champs, they need him on the field, not in the locker room six seconds after kickoff.
Moving forward, keep an eye on how teams engage with Carter at the line of scrimmage. You can bet coaches are telling their players to talk a little extra trash to number 98. The best way to handle this is to let the play do the talking. Carter needs a few multi-sack games to bury this story, or it’s going to follow him for the rest of his career.