In 1994, Jeffrey Lurie purchased the Philadelphia Eagles, launching the most successful run in franchise history.
During his time as Chairman and CEO, the Eagles have become a perennial contender, establishing a winning tradition by capturing eight NFC East titles, playing in six NFC Championships and making appearances in Super Bowls XXXIX and LII. In 2017, Philadelphia captured the first Super Bowl victory in franchise history by defeating the New England Patriots, 41-33, in Super Bowl LII. This unprecedented run of success has led to a greater overall winning percentage, more playoff games (28), and more playoff victories (15) than under all previous ownership groups combined.
While Lurie’s teams have thrived on the field, he has also built a successful business and community-oriented organization over the two decades that he has served as Chairman and CEO.
After purchasing the Eagles, Lurie recognized that the organization was in need of a total reconstruction, design, and relocation of its office headquarters, practice facility, and stadium. He immediately committed to providing the franchise with everything it needed to succeed and constructed two stateof-the-art facilities in South Philadelphia: the NovaCare Complex (2001) and Lincoln Financial Field (2003).
Although Lincoln Financial Field was erected specifically to house its primary tenant, the Philadelphia Eagles, Lurie also created a multidimensional event destination that could house a wide variety of events. Fittingly, the first ticketed event at the new stadium was a soccer match between Manchester United and FC Barcelona in August 2003.
Since then, Lincoln Financial Field has continued to evolve with an ever-changing entertainment landscape and underwent a two-year, $125 million revitalization in 2013. Over the years, the venue has hosted high-profile events including sold-out concerts, national and international soccer matches, the NCAA Lacrosse Championships, the Army-Navy Game, Monster Jam, Temple University football games, and more.
A thoughtful and compassionate philanthropist with family ties to autism, Lurie is devoted to raising critical funds for the neurodevelopmental disorder, and has leveraged his resources as a professional sports owner to turn autism awareness into action.
In 2018, Lurie launched the inaugural Eagles Autism Challenge to help drive scientific breakthroughs and establish Philadelphia as a major center for autism research and care. The team’s signature cycling and 5K run/walk event directs 100 percent of participant-raised funds to the groundbreaking research being conducted at leading Philadelphia institutions. Over the first two years, the Eagles Autism Challenge has raised more than $6 million in new money for the city, which has gone on to fund institutions conducting important work in the field of autism.
“Autism is one of the most under-funded conditions in the country and we need to turn awareness into action,” Lurie has noted. “Those who have autism are wonderful people, usually highly intelligent, sweet, and caring. They are often unable to effectively communicate with others. We need to support as much dynamic research as possible in order to create real breakthroughs.”
Through his ongoing work to find cures for neurodevelopmental diseases and disorders, the American Brain Foundation presented Lurie with the Commitment to Cures Award on May 8, 2019.
A year earlier, during the 2018 offseason, Lurie was honored by the Fritz Pollard Alliance with the 2018 Paul “Tank” Younger Award. The award is granted annually to an NFL executive, coach or owner who promotes racial and gender diversity. Lurie’s efforts to foster civic responsibility throughout the organization have also led to the Philadelphia Eagles being recognized by many for supporting social justice and human rights initiatives.
In 2011, in acknowledgment of the organization’s commitment to the community, as well as their Tackling Breast Cancer and Go Green campaigns, the Eagles were presented with the coveted Sports Team of the Year Award by Beyond Sport.
Prior to entering business, Lurie served as an adjunct assistant professor of social policy at Boston University. He earned a B.A. from Clark University, a master’s in psychology from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in social policy from Brandeis University.
Currently, he serves on numerous NFL committees, including the Finance Committee, Broadcast Committee, International Committee, and the Super Bowl Advisory Committee.
Born on September 8, 1951, Lurie has two children. He is married and resides in the Philadelphia area with his wife, Tina. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, golfing, tennis, movies, music, and discovering great restaurants.
