By Rifan Muazin 
The landscape of modern celebrity journalism is undergoing a seismic shift, moving away from the ephemeral nature of soundbites toward the immersive, conversational depth of long-form multimedia. At the forefront of this evolution is GQ, a publication that has long served as the gold standard for long-form profiles. This week, the magazine officially expanded its digital footprint with the premiere of One More Question, a new weekly interview series hosted by Zach Baron, GQ’s Senior Special Projects Editor. The debut episode features an intimate, unconventional conversation with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, signaling a commitment to high-stakes storytelling that bridges the gap between the printed page and the digital screen.
Zach Baron is no stranger to the art of the deep dive. Over his tenure at GQ, he has become one of the industry’s most respected profile writers, known for his ability to peel back the layers of some of the most enigmatic figures in global culture. His portfolio reads like a "Who’s Who" of the 21st century: he has sat across from cinematic titans like Martin Scorsese and George Clooney, deconstructed the reclusive genius of OutKast’s André 3000, and captured the weathered wisdom of Brad Pitt. For Baron, One More Question represents a natural progression of this work—a way to bring the intimacy and rigor of a cover story interview to a weekly audience via YouTube and major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The choice of Jalen Hurts as the inaugural guest is both strategic and deeply personal for Baron. A self-described "degenerate" Eagles fan and Philadelphia native, Baron approaches the interview with a level of local expertise and emotional investment that few national journalists can replicate. This personal connection serves as the backdrop for a conversation that attempts to solve one of the NFL’s most enduring puzzles: who, exactly, is Jalen Hurts? Since being drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Hurts has ascended to the pinnacle of the sport, leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance and securing a massive $255 million contract extension in 2023. Yet, despite his accolades, he remains a figure of intense debate among pundits and a challenge for the media.
Hurts is often categorized as a graduate of the "Michael Jordan school" of athlete communication. This archetype is defined by a stoic, disciplined approach to public speaking where every word is measured, and very little is given away. In an era of high-octane "hot takes" and social media oversharing, Hurts’ reticence is an anomaly. He speaks in aphorisms and "Hurts-isms," focusing on the "main thing" and maintaining a "standard" that often leaves interviewers grasping for a glimpse of the man behind the helmet. Baron’s task in the debut episode of One More Question was to break through this defensive line, a feat he attempted not in a sterile studio, but over a game of pool at Philadelphia’s exclusive Fitler Club.
The setting of the interview is crucial to its success. By moving the conversation to a pool table, the power dynamic shifted. The physical activity of the game—the clink of the balls, the strategic lining up of shots—provided a cadence to the dialogue that allowed for more natural pauses and reflections. Hurts, a known competitor in all facets of life, seemed at home in this environment. The resulting interview is reportedly one of the longest Hurts has ever granted, covering the breadth of his tumultuous yet triumphant career.
To understand the weight of the conversation, one must look at the data and history that define Hurts’ career. His journey is one of the most unique in modern football history. At the University of Alabama, he was a star who led his team to consecutive National Championship games, only to be benched at halftime during the 2018 title game in favor of Tua Tagovailoa. Rather than fading into obscurity or harboring bitterness, Hurts famously stayed, supported his teammate, and eventually transferred to Oklahoma, where he finished as a Heisman Trophy finalist. This "trial by fire" at the collegiate level forged the stoicism that Baron explores in the show.
In the NFL, Hurts has continued to defy expectations. While many scouts doubted his ability to transition from a "running quarterback" to a refined pocket passer, the statistics tell a story of constant evolution. In the 2022 season, Hurts threw for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for another 13 scores, finishing as the MVP runner-up. However, the 2023 season presented new challenges. Despite a blistering 10-1 start, the Eagles suffered a historic late-season collapse, losing five of their last six games and exiting the playoffs in the Wild Card round. This period of "listlessness," as Baron describes it, sparked intense scrutiny of Hurts’ leadership style and the team’s internal chemistry under head coach Nick Sirianni.
One More Question dives into these complexities, questioning how a leader maintains his composure when the city’s notoriously demanding fan base—and the national media—begins to turn. Baron’s perspective as an Eagles fan adds a layer of accountability to the questioning. He isn’t just asking as a journalist; he’s asking as a representative of a fan base that lives and breathes every "Tush Push" and every intercepted pass. This dual identity allows Baron to probe Hurts on his "second or third tier" ranking by certain pundits, a recurring theme in the quarterback’s career despite his proven track record of winning.
Beyond the sports-specific analysis, the launch of One More Question marks a significant moment for GQ and its parent company, Condé Nast. The media industry is currently grappling with the "creator economy," where athletes like Travis and Jason Kelce or Draymond Green host their own highly successful podcasts, often bypassing traditional media outlets entirely. By launching a weekly show hosted by a premier journalist like Baron, GQ is asserting the continued value of the "outsider" perspective—the idea that a skilled interviewer can extract insights from a subject that the subject might not even realize they are revealing.
The title of the show itself, One More Question, is a nod to the journalistic trope of the "columbo moment"—the crucial piece of information that often comes just as the interview is supposed to be ending and the subject’s guard is finally down. In the premiere episode, this philosophy is put to the test. Baron notes that Hurts actually had "notes" on how the interview was conducted, a rare instance of a subject critiquing the interviewer’s craft in real-time. This meta-commentary highlights the high-level intellectual chess match that occurs when two people at the top of their respective fields sit down to talk.
The production of the show also reflects a high-end aesthetic. Eschewing the cluttered, neon-lit basements of many modern podcasts, One More Question utilizes the cinematic visual language associated with GQ’s video content. Whether it’s the high-contrast lighting of the Fitler Club or the carefully edited sequences of the pool game—including a "behind-the-back trick shot" by Baron that has already become a talking point—the show is designed to be watched as much as it is to be heard.
As One More Question rolls out every Tuesday, it aims to become a destination for what Baron calls the "GQ universe." This universe is populated by individuals who are not just famous, but who possess a certain cultural gravity. Future episodes promise to continue this trend, offering a mix of Hollywood icons, musical innovators, and elite athletes. The goal is to create a weekly ritual for listeners and viewers who crave substance over clickbait.
In the debut episode, the synthesis of Baron’s Philadelphia roots and Hurts’ Philadelphia present creates a compelling narrative arc. It is a story about a city’s relationship with its heroes and the heavy burden of the "franchise quarterback" label. For Hurts, the interview is an opportunity to clarify his philosophy; for Baron, it is a chance to humanize a player who is often viewed as a machine-like competitor.
Ultimately, One More Question is an ambitious bet on the power of conversation. In a world of shrinking attention spans, Zach Baron and GQ are asking the audience to slow down, lean in, and listen to the nuances of a well-told story. By starting with Jalen Hurts, a man of few words but immense impact, the show sets a high bar for what sports and culture journalism can achieve when given the space to breathe. As the Eagles prepare for another high-stakes season, and as GQ continues to redefine its role in the digital age, One More Question stands as a bridge between the legends of the past and the icons of the present, one Tuesday at a time.
