Philadelphia local news, sports, jobs, cars, homes

Author: Ariel Simpson

  • The Stoop Pigeon, a women’s sports hub and cafe, has a new location and plans to open in June

    The Stoop Pigeon, a women’s sports hub and cafe, has a new location and plans to open in June

    After more than six months of searching, The Stoop Pigeon has finally found its home. The women’s sports hub will be located at the intersection of Broad and Pine Streets — giving Philly fans a view of City Hall, and the perfect place to reminisce on past championship parades.

    “It’s a location that people immediately identify with,” said Lori Albright, the managing partner of The Stoop Pigeon. “As soon as we say Broad and Pine, people are like, ‘Oh my God, that’s where I watched the Phillies parade.’”

    The Stoop Pigeon has been in the making for a few years. It all started with Jen Leary’s creation in spring 2024: Watch Party PHL, which hosted monthly events at local sports bars to bring fans together and provide a safe and inclusive place to watch women’s sporting events — with the sound on..

    Since then, they’ve continued to grow — and so has the city’s women’s sports team, including the announcement of its own WNBA team — and Leary realized it was time for a brick-and-mortar location.

    “It’s been truly amazing to go from where we were two-and-a-half years ago when I started doing this,” Leary said. “I could not find a single place in the city showing women’s sports at all, let alone with the sound on, to where we are now — packing places with like 700 people wanting to watch women’s sports. It’s incredible.

    “It just shows you that if you give people a space, they will come out and support women’s sports, but you have to give them the opportunity to do that. And we are doing that here in Philly.”

    Watch Party PHL founder Jen Leary holds the “Philly is a women’s sports town” shirt that went viral after Aubrey Plaza wore it to a Liberty game.

    The women’s sports hub, which will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to midnight, will double as a cafe by day and a watch bar at night. The cafe includes partnerships with several Philly-based companies, including coffee from Rival Bros, pastries from Crust Vegan Bakery and Second Daughter, and drinks, including locally brewed beers, ready to drink cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages, from Sterling Pig Brewery, with whom they previously partnered for a women’s sports themed beer.

    They’ll serve a number of items named after women athletes and Philadelphia favorites. Some of the items include: The Dawn Staley latte, the Victory Veggie Burger (named after Victory Brewing), Ora-cini balls (named after Ora Washington), Vivian Shoe-Stringer fries, a KFC pulled-chicken sandwich in honor of Kahleah Copper’s “KFC” nickname, and a Tastykake bread pudding as an homage to the Philadelphia-based snack brand.

    “The goal was to have a local take on a menu,” Leary said. “This isn’t going to be a restaurant, but we’re definitely going to have things that will make people want to come back. We want to make sure they enjoy their time with us and stay. So we’re going to have vegetarian options, we’re going to have vegan options, we’re going to have allergy-free options.”

    With a number of big sporting events coming to Philly in 2026 — including the MLB All-Star Game, the PGA Championship, and the FIFA World Cup — Leary, Albright, and their partners, Fawn McGee and Megan DiTolla, plan to open in June.

    “We really want everyone to feel welcome,” Leary said. “So we want it to be family-friendly. You can bring your kids. The whole reason we’re very intentional about not calling it a bar is because we want people who don’t drink to feel comfortable there.”

    When The Stoop Pigeon opens, it will join Marsha’s on South Street, which opened in September, as the latest sign that “Philly is a women’s sports town.”

  • Report: Flag football event featuring Saquon Barkley likely moving from Saudi Arabia to U.S. amid Middle East war

    Report: Flag football event featuring Saquon Barkley likely moving from Saudi Arabia to U.S. amid Middle East war

    The Fanatics Flag Football Classic, an event planned by Tom Brady and Fanatics, was originally planned to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on March 21. Amid the widening war in the Middle East, the games will likely move to the United States due to recent airstrikes and regional travel restrictions, according to Front Office Sports.

    The event, which will be hosted by Philadelphia native Kevin Hart, is expected to feature a lineup of NFL stars, including Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. Other players scheduled to compete include Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, free agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill, Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, and former Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

    Fanatics Games are returning this year — and so is the 40-year-old Philly sports fan who almost beat Tom Brady

    Ahead of the game’s Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028, the Fanatics Flag Football Classic will follow Olympic style rules, with players competing in five-on-five on a 50-yard field (plus two 10-yard end zones) for two 20-minute halves. Players will be divided into three teams that will play in a round-robin tournament with Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan slated to be the coaches.

    Although a new location has yet to be announced, the event is still expected to be broadcast on Fox Sports and Tubi, with a much more friendly air time for the American audience, as FOS points out.

  • The Flyers helped renovate the home of a Northeast Philly teen battling leukemia. He’s ‘gobsmacked.’

    The Flyers helped renovate the home of a Northeast Philly teen battling leukemia. He’s ‘gobsmacked.’

    One word would describe 19-year-old Ethan Ruiz’s reaction to his newly renovated home: “Gobsmacked.”

    “I don’t know how you turn what was here before into such a large space,” Ruiz said. “I guess it involved knocking down walls, but seeing it in its full extent — completely open. I love the open-air design of everything.”

    Ruiz was the 10th recipient of the Building Hope for Kids grant, an initiative in which Flyers Charities and Michael’s Way partner to renovate homes for children battling cancer.

    Flyers Charities and Michael’s Way to team up to renovate the home of a local teen with cancer

    The initiative led to Ruiz’s home in Northeast Philadelphia being renovated to create a more comfortable, accessible, and uplifting space as he continues treatment for his leukemia diagnosis.

    “Every year we work with St. Christopher’s Hospital,” said Blair Listino, chair of Flyers Charities and an alternate governor of the Flyers who is the chief financial and administrative officer for Comcast Spectacor. “We work with social workers there who select a family that they think it would make a very big impact on in their lives to have a new home.

    “This is the 10th house we’ve done and we’ve worked with a lot of organizations day in and day out. There’s different organizations here who’ve helped with the house. IKEA donated all the furniture. Sprouts [Farmers Market] stocked the kitchen. And we have Rheem who did the HVAC system for us.”

    The basement at newly renovated home for 19-year old Ethan Ruiz and his mom features a home gym.

    In 2025, Flyers Charities increased its financial contribution to the initiative to $100,000 due to the increased cost of building materials and the success of previous home renovations.

    Flyers Charities financially supports Michael’s Way, a local nonprofit whose mission is to improve the lives of children with pediatric cancer, for the project while the wives and girlfriends of Flyers players act as interior designers for the house.

    Ethan and his mother, Yomayra Carrer, were surprised with the news in October. Construction began in January with Flyers Charities and wives and girlfriends working alongside Fastrack Construction and IKEA to complete a full-scale renovation.

    Brandon Graham, Jaelan Phillips among athletes working with organization to prepare for post-playing career

    The renovation includes a new HVAC system, a new roof for long-term structural security, engineered hardwood flooring to reduce dust and allergens, new cabinetry, a home gym, walk-in closet, and new tile.

    When asked what his favorite part of the renovation was, Ruiz said: “My room.”

    Ruiz’s room was decorated with forest green walls, featured a gaming setup in the corner, and personalized with some of his favorite items — including a “Ghost of Yotei” poster, and album artwork from Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia.”

    One of the masterminds behind Ruiz’s room was Alex Sanheim, Travis Sanheim’s wife.

    Ethan Ruiz’s newly renovated bedroom was decorated with forest green walls, featured a gaming setup in the corner, and personalized with some of his favorite items — including a “Ghost of Yotei” poster, and Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia” album artwork.

    “It’s tough to design something for someone else and still hope it’s exactly what they envisioned,” Alex Sanheim said. “And by his reaction, I think we nailed it. It was to be green and moody and have a gaming [setup]. I think the space works for him to enjoy gaming between school. Everything now, it’s just completely different.

    “It truly wouldn’t be possible without every single person. I just truly don’t think that we give enough credit to everyone because it takes a village for sure.”

    After getting to know the family, the Flyers’ wives and girlfriends took both Ruiz and Carrer’s interests in consideration to make their vision come to life. For instance, plants were something Carrer loved to have in her home. Going into the renovation, she was a little worried she would have no place for them.

    The Eagles Autism Foundation raised more than $10 million last year. It’s needed ‘now more than ever,’ Jeffrey Lurie says.

    “From my exact sitting position [in the living room], I can count like six of them,” Ruiz said.

    Little did Ruiz know, he missed an entire cabinet of four additional plants to his right. Although the plants were a must have, for Carrer, the kitchen was the main star of the house — but it may take some time getting used to.

    “I don’t know if I’m just like of a different tax bracket, so I don’t know this, but like, I didn’t even know that ovens could come in — dude, there’s two. And it’s split into one big one,” Ruiz said.

    Carrer added: “We’re going to figure it out.”

    Flyers Travis Sanheim (left) and Owen Tippett attended the unveiling of Ethan Ruiz and Yomayra Carrer’s renovated home on Tuesday.

    When asked what would be the first thing they make in their new kitchen, they responded: “Empanadas.”

    Despite the rainy conditions Tuesday, Gritty and Flyers players Jamie Drysdale, Bobby Brink, Owen Tippett, and Sean Couturier were there to witness the big reveal.

    “Oh, they did a great job,” Couturier said. “I would probably let them redo our house altogether. They did an amazing job. Everything kind of fit together and I’m sure they’re happy with the end result.”

    For the Ruiz family, the renovation was a dream come true.

    “The way that I saw all the wives show up, the contractors, I know how stressful it was,” Carrer said. “But they were like, ‘No, this is something we want to do. We do it with joy in our hearts.’ So, to me it’s like they will forever be in my prayers. The contractors, the wives, the Flyers, Michael’s Way. It’s been a long journey, but it’s a beautiful one.”

  • Meet the woman owner of the city’s newest pro sports franchise, the Philadelphia Phenoms

    Meet the woman owner of the city’s newest pro sports franchise, the Philadelphia Phenoms

    Lauren Barone has been in love with everything martial arts since she was a child, whether that meant practicing tae kwon do and studying old Royce Gracie matches, or just watching the Ninja Turtles. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the 40-year-old now is now a part of the Professional Grappling Federation, the world’s only team-based jiujitsu league.

    She is also the first female owner in an otherwise all-male league.

    “It’s really wonderful to be the first female owner,” said Barone, an Arkansas native. “I’m kind of paving my own path and figuring it out as I go. And I embrace that role because there are things that I want to do.”

    Barone will oversee the latest pro sports franchise to represent the city, the Philadelphia Phenoms, who kick off their first PGF season on Wednesday. And when it was time to pick a new city for the league’s expansion, Barone knew Philly was the perfect place for a jiujitsu team.

    “I have a great deal of respect for the wonderful city of Philadelphia and some of the most amazing sports fans come from the area,” Barone said. “It’s got a wonderful sports scene. I’ve been to events in Philly, like WrestleMania, and it’s quite a different sports scene. The fan energy was amazing and I was like, wow, these fans are unmatched. So, that’s something that really hit home for me.”

    The PGF is entering its ninth season, and the Phenoms will open their inaugural campaign against the Las Vegas Kings this week. The entire regular season, which wraps up in April, will be held in Las Vegas, with matches streaming on the PGF YouTube channel each Wednesday.

    The playoffs consist of the top eight individual scorers competing in a single-elimination bracket. To prepare for the competition, the Phenoms will practice out of Olivo’s Las Vegas gym, Potential Jiu Jitsu.

    “When they step onto those mats, it’s going to be business,” Barone said. “They are going to be seeking wins. We are looking for a championship.”

    Before deciding the take ownership of a team, Barone, who now resides in the Philadelphia area, was already fully involved in the sport. She and her husband, Joe, were fans of the PGF, streaming matches on YouTube every week. And, about three years ago, they began their own jiujitsu journey, training out of Finishers MMA in Reading.

    “I wanted to do it for weight loss and self-defense, and we just haven’t looked back,” Barone said. “We train together very often. I probably competed 10 times last year, and had my share of wins and losses. But, it’s all growth at the end of the day, and it’s truly rewarding how something that started out as a hobby turned into a career for me.”

    The Philadelphia Phenoms will make their season nine debut on March 4.

    The Phenoms, who have an alien-themed logo with an “Area 215″ tagline, will compete against three other franchises this season: the Las Vegas Kings, Alabama Twisters, and Colorado Wolverines. Following its latest expansion, the league hopes to continue to grow to 16 teams.

    “Once we opened the doors to team ownership, the floodgates opened — the [Las Vegas] Kings were first, then the Philadelphia Phenoms, followed by the Alabama Twisters, with more already in negotiations,” Zoltan Bathory, co-owner of the Professional Grappling Federation, said in a release. “At this pace, we anticipate expanding to 8-12 teams in the coming months, which puts us firmly on track toward the 16-team national league we originally envisioned.”

    There are currently 28 athletes in the league across the four franchises. Ahead of the upcoming season, the Phenoms drafted seven fighters to their roster: Andrew Kochel, Derek Rayfield, Shawn Melanson, Kyle Chambers, Noah McCully, Armin Bruni, and Derrick Adkins.

    They’ll compete in 75 matches across the five-week regular season in a submission-only, team-based format with six-minute matches. The winner of each match is based on a point system, with different point values for different moves and bonus points for getting your opponent to submit in under 60 seconds.

    “I think these athletes are going to mesh really well together because we have leg-lock athletes, pressure passers, we have all different styles of jiujitsu coming together here,” Barone said. “That was something I really wanted, and I think we accomplished that.”

    The team will be coached by PGF veteran Kris Olivo (15-5-8), who has been referred to as “the most interesting man in the PGF” for his charismatic energy and flashy wardrobe.

    “Last season, when I purchased my franchise, I had sat in on a couple of the PGF matches and noticed Kris Olivo,” Barone said. “Just a really cool, unique personality. The leopard king. And I was like, wow … He exhibits a specific kind of charisma in person and he has a super high jiujitsu IQ. He’s a black belt, was killing it in PGF. I think he has what it takes to be our coach.”

  • Jason Kelce’s experience at the Winter Olympics, from hockey to figure skating: ‘I really was just there to have fun’

    Jason Kelce’s experience at the Winter Olympics, from hockey to figure skating: ‘I really was just there to have fun’

    The Winter Olympics were full of exciting moments for Team USA — from the men’s and women’s hockey teams winning gold to Alysa Liu stunning fans every time she took the ice. And one man was there to witness it all: Jason Kelce.

    The former Eagles center joined his wife, Kylie Kelce, who attended on behalf of NBC and YouTube. While Kylie was there on business, Jason enjoyed his time as a spectator and had no problem with CBC Olympics labeling him as Kylie Kelce’s husband.

    “I really was just there to have fun and enjoy the Olympics,” Kelce said on the latest episode of New Heights. “So, I was 100% — this was the correct way to say it. I wanted to tell them I prefer ‘ball and chain.’”

    During his time in Milan, Kelce got some bobsledding experience and attended four Olympic hockey games, the short program for figure skating and short-track speedskating. Here’s everything he had to say about his experience at the Winter Olympics:

    Bobsledding experience

    Ahead of the games, Kelce had the chance to get some hands-on experience with Team USA’s bobsledding team at their headquarters in Park City, Utah, where he learned about their training and got to see what it feels like going down the track with Team USA member Frank Del Duca.

    “The ride itself, way more intense than I imagined,” Kelce said. “Like I thought it would be like a roller coaster. I really did. The energy that you are moving down this thing at over 80 mph. And when you go into these bank turns, it pushes you into the bottom of this thing.

    “And on the bottom of the sled, there’s like these metal rails and my [expletive] is so [expletive] wide, they’re sitting on those metal rails. I’m being pinched down onto these metal beams. I’m trying to keep my head up so I can see. [Expletive] is flying by. I have no [expletive] idea how [Frank] was even knowing when to do the turns and everything. Like, you have to memorize it.”

    ‘The most fun sport to watch on the planet’

    After the men’s U.S. hockey team made history, winning the gold medal for the first time in 46 years, Kelce went to social media to express his feelings with a simple, “Let’s [expletive] go!”

    “There is just something about hockey, whether it’s playoff hockey or national hockey,” Kelce said. “When guys are like going all out, it’s just the most fun sport to watch on the planet. USA, hockey capital of the world. Men’s and women’s gold medal. Best country on the planet in hockey. I don’t want to hear any arguments.”

    Kelce supported both teams in Milan, attending two women’s hockey games and two men’s games — including the men’s dominant 6-2 win over Slovakia in the semifinals, and the women’s gold medal victory over Canada.

    “Canada got out to a quick lead and it made it very stressful,” Kelce said. “It was an electric game and then obviously we got to see USA men’s dismantle Slovakia. And I was sitting with the Tkachuk family. Keith Tkachuk was over there on the end of it. Got to shake the hand of a [expletive] legend … We were right by the Hughes family, too. Jack Hughes, who had the golden goal for the U.S. in the gold medal game.”

    The outrage over Team USA’s connection with Trump is dumb — and it’s what he wants

    After both teams’ wins, Kelce was able to meet the entire women’s hockey team — including Laila Edwards, another Cleveland Heights native whose family was helped to Milan by a donation from the Kelce brothers.

    “After talking to her, you realize she is from the Heights,” Kelce said. “There’s just like this humbleness but also she’s a great person and it comes across very apparent when you speak to her. … They’re a great team, man. They’re tightknit. They’re playing jokes on one another. Just so proud for all of them. It’s an incredible moment to win a gold medal, especially in a team sport like that.”

    Speed skating vs. figure skating

    Kelce attended the short program for figure skating and he had just one recommendation when it comes to watching in the arena.

    “I would have liked to have heard Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir announcing it live,” Kelce said. “When you don’t have that, especially for someone newer to the sport, you like to hear the excitement in the announcer’s voice that they just did something difficult or they just nailed a routine or they just missed something.”

    But when it came to speed skating, Kelce had no notes.

    “In speed skating, it is a [expletive] party in that speed skating arena,” Kelce said. “There’s DJ’s playing music. It’s fast paced, there’s bells ringing, it is high-stakes action in the speed skating short track.”

    Kelce even had the chance to meet Apolo Ohno, a speed skating legend and eight-time medalist.

    “Apolo, we watched him all growing up,” Kelce said. “Unbelievable speed skater. … Speed skating was electric as [expletive]. … These things were fast paced, they were moving. They’re doing Tush Pushes because we saw the relay version where they get in there and push the [expletive] of the guy in front of them.”

  • Fanatics Games are returning this year — and so is the 40-year-old Philly sports fan who almost beat Tom Brady

    Fanatics Games are returning this year — and so is the 40-year-old Philly sports fan who almost beat Tom Brady

    Fanatics Fest will make its return to the Javits Center in New York City from July 16-19, and with its return comes another year of the Fanatics Games.

    The high-stakes, fan-inclusive sports competition debuted last year, featuring 50 professional athletes, creators, celebrities, and 50 fans competing head-to-head in different sports-themed skills challenges.

    The top 10 finishers from last year are expected to compete once again in this year’s competitions, including the inaugural winner, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, UFC fighter, and runner-up, Justin Gaethje, and the third-place finisher — and reigning “fan champion,” — Matt Dennish, a health teacher and basketball coach at Red Lion High School in York County, Pa.

    Bryce Harper goes to the Jersey Shore boardwalk with his new ‘Mad House’ cleats

    “When the offer was there, I couldn’t pass it up,” Dennish, an avid Philly sports fan, said. “It was an experience worth going back for. The first time around, I didn’t know what to expect, and I far exceeded expectations. So, when I go back for the challenge, whether it goes well or not, I’m just happy to be able to go back.”

    Dennish, 40, competed in multiple events, including an NBA shooting competition, a FIFA goal-scoring shootout, an NHL slapshot accuracy competition, an NFL passing skills test, a UFC striking challenge, a golf challenge, an MLB pitching accuracy competition, and a WWE entrance challenge.

    Fanatics co-founder and Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin (right) at Fanatics Fest 2024 at the Javits Center in New York City.

    In the overall competition, Dennish finished in third place, earning a LeBron James rookie card. Meanwhile, Brady placed first and won the $1 million grand prize. And Gaethje placed second, winning a red Ferrari 296 GTB. However, Dennish didn’t walk out with the card. Brady offered him the $250,000 in market value for the card, a signed Brady jersey, and his trading card.

    Dennish gladly accepted.

    “When I came back, because I’m part of a small town here in Red Lion, my life was very chaotic,” Dennish said. “For a couple [of] months afterwards, a day didn’t go by that somebody wouldn’t bring it up. At the grocery store, I was pretty recognizable, being taller, I couldn’t hide away. So, it was a weird feeling. … And I get a lot of questions coming up for this next year.”

    Some of those questions were answered by a video message Brady sent to Red Lion High School.

    “What’s up, Red Lion?” Brady said in the video. “I had to send this because I got a message for one of your teachers, Mr. Dennish. Matt, remember me? Your Fanatics Games rival, Tom Brady. Yeah, last year at Fanatics Fest, I was very fortunate to beat 100 great athletes and fans to win the inaugural Fanatics Games. But, Matt, you were incredible.

    “So, I hear Fanatics Games is back this July in New York City. I’m going to be there, so I’m calling for a rematch. Winning feels best when you beat the best. So, Matt I sent you something with Fanatics. If you accept, put it on.”

    Rare Wilt Chamberlain rookie uniform could fetch millions at auction — and might still be a bargain

    Accepting Brady’s challenge, Dennish put on a custom Fanatics jersey as students chanted “Beat Tom Brady!” Now, as the 6-foot-6 teacher from Red Lion prepares to compete for the second year in a row, he’ll be taking on a different role from the first competition.

    “I was a no-name last year and flew under the radar,” Dennish said. “And of course, this year, there’s going to be a target on my back. But I’m okay with that. I think it just leads to a new challenge and more attention. We’ll see how it goes.”

    Michael Rubin (second from left), with the top three finishers in the 2025 Fanatics Games: Tom Brady, Matt Dennish, and Justin Gaethje.

    This year’s competition will introduce new and improved competition formats and a $2 million total prize pool.

    There will be more opportunities for fans to qualify through a partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, introducing in-person qualifiers by visiting select Dick’s House of Sport locations across the country — including Knoxville (May 9), Kennesaw, Ga. (May 30), Houston (June 13), and Boston (June 28).

    The top three performers from each event will earn a chance to compete.

    “What made Fanatics Games special in year one was seeing fans and world-class athletes compete side by side, feeding off each other’s energy in real time,” said Lance Fensterman, the chief executive officer of Fanatics Events. “That level of passion and participation inspired us to expand the Games in 2026, and partnering with Dick’s Sporting Goods allows us to make the experience even bigger and better, creating new ways that make it even more interactive for fans across the country to earn their spot in the competition.”

    Fans who can’t compete in the in-person qualifiers can send a video application to the Fanatics Games website or post to social media using #FanaticsGames.

    Rob Gronkowski, James Harden, and WWE superstars Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Cody Rhodes, and Jey Uso will be some of the other athletes competing this year. Additional participants will be announced in the coming months.

    The Tush Push lives: NFL not anticipating an attempt to ban Eagles’ signature sneak this offseason
  • The Eagles Autism Foundation raised more than $10 million last year. It’s needed ‘now more than ever,’ Jeffrey Lurie says.

    The Eagles Autism Foundation raised more than $10 million last year. It’s needed ‘now more than ever,’ Jeffrey Lurie says.

    With its soft motion-sensor lights, bubble walls, beanbag chairs, and custom tactile artwork, the sensory room at Lincoln Financial Field showcases the Eagles Autism Foundation’s work to create an inclusive environment for those with autism.

    There’s more work behind the scenes that many don’t get the chance to see. This year, the Eagles Autism Foundation is contributing $10.8 million in funding to 54 research and community projects specializing in autism research and care, the largest amount raised to date by the foundation.

    “This was a huge milestone for us. It was the first year we raised over $10 million,” said Ryan Hammond, executive director of the Eagles Autism Foundation.

    “The fact that we can be a model to an inclusive fan experience, inclusive recreation opportunities, inclusive employment, all of those things are just as important as the science,” she said. “We’re impacting people every day by feeling included — whether it’s a family seeing our mascot wearing headphones and their son wearing headphones, they feel seen.”

    The funding comes from foundation-related initiatives throughout the year, including the Eagles Autism Challenge and events like Jason Kelce’s annual celebrity bartending event in Sea Isle City.

    Eagles Jalen Hurts (right) takes a selfie with Aaron Greenfield of Plymouth Meeting at the eighth annual Eagles Autism Challenge in May.

    “It is rewarding to know that our financial investment this year will support the next generation of scientific researchers and leaders who are all working hard to accelerate treatment for the autism community,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said. “While we are proud to celebrate another record-setting year for the Eagles Autism Foundation, it comes at an unfortunate time where too many institutions are having their funding cut. Now more than ever, we need to invest in science and prioritize those who need our help.”

    In the last year, President Donald Trump’s administration has cut funding for autism research, with one of the biggest cuts occurring at the Department of Education.

    “To know that we were making [our] largest investment in science at a time that it’s the most needed is a point of not only pride, but motivation to continue to support and serve this community,” Hammond said. “Funding science is critical, and a lot of institutions are faced with challenges with losing funding from the federal government.”

    Nick Sirianni talks up DeVonta Smith’s role in changing scheme: ‘Excited about what he’ll look like in this new offense’

    As the foundation grows, so does the interest from potential research partners. This year, the Eagles Autism Foundation received a record 267 letters of intent for research grant funding. A scientific adviser helped review each letter, taking innovation and measurable outcomes into consideration to narrow the pool to 52 proposals.

    Each proposal was assigned to an independent team of scientists for review. Then, Dr. Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom, who serves as the foundation’s scientific adviser and chairman of its review panel, and others participated in a two-day discussion at Lurie’s home to negotiate the strengths, weaknesses, and challenges of each project.

    “Being able to go through this process that’s not only rigorous but also transparent makes me feel like we’re doing a service on behalf of every single person who agreed to support our mission,” Hammond said. “I’m filled with hope that these projects are really going to change someone’s life.”

    Added Lurie: “We are beyond grateful for Dr. DiCicco-Bloom and his esteemed panel of colleagues for putting in the time, once again, to evaluate these projects and drive meaningful progress in autism research.”

    Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie and his family donated $50 million to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine to create the Lurie Autism Institute last year.

    This year, the foundation will fund 13 pilot grants, four postdoctoral fellowships, and three translational grants that include a three-year investment for research. The four postdoctoral fellowships will support the work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, both partners in the Lurie Autism Institute, which was founded last year after the Lurie family donated $50 million to CHOP and Penn Medicine.

    In addition to funding autism research, grants were given to dozens of local projects that provide an immediate need in the community and align with the Eagles Autism Foundation’s mission.

    Since 2018, the Eagles Autism Foundation has invested more than $40 million in 223 research projects and community grants. To Hammond, this is just the beginning.

    “Honestly, the sky is really the limit,” Hammond said. “What we’ve been able to see in such a short time has been incredible. … We’re continuing to drive a more inclusive future for everyone.”

    Savannah Laycock of Quakertown and Brennan Sim of Atco play in the Eagles’ sensory room at Lincoln Financial Field.

    Where is all the money going?

    The Eagles Autism Foundation will divide the $10.8 million in funds among 54 research and community projects:

    Research institutions

    Local: The A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (two postdoctoral fellowships and a translational grant), and the University of Pennsylvania (two postdoctoral fellowships).

    National/global: Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital — Harvard Medical School, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Children’s National, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Stanford University, Stony Brook University, University of California San Francisco, University of Geneva, University of Iowa, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

    Community projects and initiatives

    Local: KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools, A Step Up Academy, Common Space, Huddle Up for Autism, KultureCity Barefoot Country Music Fest, Coffee Closet with Barista Jake, Office for People with Disabilities (City of Philadelphia), Penn State Health, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadelphia Zoo, Saint Joseph’s University, CASA Youth Advocates, Special Olympics Pennsylvania, SPIN, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, St. John of God Community Services, Stratford Friends School, TGR Learning Lab, Timothy School, Theatre Horizon, Thomas Jefferson University, and Variety — The Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley, Comprehensive Learning Center, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, Elwyn Foundation, KultureCity Super Bowl LIX, Melmark, Neurodiversity Employment Network, No Limits Café, Pathway School, Potential Inc., Raise the Bar Family Services, Shore Medical Center, Special Equestrians.

  • The Tush Push lives: NFL not anticipating an attempt to ban Eagles’ signature sneak this offseason

    The Tush Push lives: NFL not anticipating an attempt to ban Eagles’ signature sneak this offseason

    The Tush Push was the topic of discussion last offseason. Will the Eagles’ signature play get banned or will it live to see another season?

    The play seemed destined to be outlawed — of course, we know how that ended, thanks at least in part to an impassioned speech from Jason Kelce at the NFL owners meetings. But the drama continued into the regular season, as referees officiated the play differently, sparking new controversies that had little to do with the “player safety” concerns that almost eliminated the Birds’ quarterback sneak from the game.

    But now, for a variety of reasons, the discourse around the play has seemingly died down. And nobody is attempting to ban the play — at least not yet.

    Over the last several years, the Tush Push faced criticism from other teams around the league, but last year was the first time a formal proposal was made to ban the play. That proposal came from the Green Bay Packers, who mentioned player safety and pace of play as their reasons behind the attempted rule change.

    Can the return of Eagles OLs Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson save Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts? | Marcus Hayes

    The proposal needed at least 24 votes from the 32 owners to ban the play, but it fell two votes short. Despite how close the vote came last season, NFL competition committee co-chairman Rich McKay said he’s not anticipating another team to pick up where Green Bay left off.

    “There’s no team proposal that I’ve seen from it,” McKay told ESPN. “So, I wouldn’t envision it. But you never know.”

    The Eagles ran the Tush Push half a dozen times against the Chiefs in their 20-17 win in Kansas City.

    Of course, there’s still time to file a proposal ahead of this year’s annual league meeting, which will take place at the end of March. But as of now, there has been no movement surrounding the play.

    “The reason no one’s talking about it is because the play wasn’t as successful this year,” Jason McCourty said Monday on ESPN’s Get Up. “Defenses caught up. They figured out ways to stop it. We watched Jalen Hurts lose a fumble on the Tush Push. So now going forward, there’s multiple teams that do it now, but defenses and teams, they aren’t as passionate about it because they’re like, ‘You know what? We’ve gone back, we’ve watched the film, and we’ve figured out different avenues to stop this play.’

    “So it no longer is all the nonsense that we’ve seen over the last few years where the Eagles were absolutely dominant at scoring with.”

    Why do Jayden Daniels, Maxx Crosby, and other NFL players keep professing their ‘love’ for Eagles fans?

    While the Eagles mastered the Tush Push for its first three years, making it look nearly unstoppable, they took a major step back in 2025.

    In 2022, with opposing defenses never having seen the play before, the Tush Push debuted to a 92.3% success rate. The following season, teams started to adjust, and the play’s success dipped to 83.3% as the Eagles rode it to a Super Bowl berth. That conversion rate stayed relatively consistent the following year, even without Kelce under center, with the play remaining successful 79.6% of the time, according to tushpush.fyi, a Tush Push tracking site run by an Eagles fan.

    However, the Eagles struggled with the Tush Push last season, converting 21 of their 33 attempts for a 63.6% success rate. That was well below the league average of 73.8%. And while the Eagles attempted the play more than any other team — they accounted for nearly 25% of all attempts last season — they converted at a lower rate than each of the other four teams that ran the Tush Push at least 10 times, all of which had voted to ban the play.

    * — Ran the play with a tight end, not a quarterback

    One of the reasons the Eagles converted at a lower rate in 2025 was that league officials raised their level of scrutiny on the play, calling more penalties against the Birds after slow-motion clips of the play appeared to show the Eagles offensive line moving before the ball was snapped.

    With the Eagles’ Tush Push no longer as dominant as it once was, and after years of offseason debate, it looks like the discussion surrounding the play is finally dead — for now.

  • Flyers continue to fight local hunger one assist at a time: ‘We needed to do more, plain and simple’

    Flyers continue to fight local hunger one assist at a time: ‘We needed to do more, plain and simple’

    The Flyers and Penn Medicine have partnered up to donate 13,750 pounds of food, which accounts for over 9,000 meals, so far this season as part of their Penn Medicine Assist program.

    The initiative, which started during the 2023-24 season, donates 50 pounds of food to local hunger-relief organization Philabundance for every Flyers assist — increasing last year’s amount by 20 pounds per assist. So far, the Flyers have tallied 275 assists.

    “We needed to do more, plain and simple,” said Todd Glickman, the chief revenue and business officer for Comcast Spectacor. “We felt like we needed to do more and give more because food insecurity is such a big thing in the region. It was important to Penn Medicine and it was important to us. And it was an easy thing to do.”

    Flyers Charities and Michael’s Way to team up to renovate the home of a local teen with cancer

    The program’s numbers continue to grow each year. During the 2023-24 season, the Flyers’ 396 assists donated 11,880 pounds of food. The following year, the Flyers’ 403 assists donated 12,090 pounds of food — making it over 37,000 pounds of food, and over 25,000 meals, that have been donated over the last three years.

    “I think we’ll see the numbers go up significantly from last year just by increasing the amount by 20 pounds per assist,” said Lori Gustave, the chief strategy officer of Penn Medicine. “I personally hope they get a lot of assists so that we can donate a lot of food.”

    The initiative will benefit Philabundance, which has been operating for 41 years, growing across two states in nine counties, with the mission to bridge the gap between a surplus of food and those in the community struggling with food insecurity.

    The foundation started from the back of Pam Rainey Lawler’s Subaru in 1984. Since then, it has grown tremendously — delivering over 40 million pounds of food to the community over the past year.

    Gritty at Philabundance last year, packing some of the meals donated from the Penn Medicine Assist program.

    “Of the nine counties, which includes Philadelphia, there are approximately 700,000 neighbors that are food insecure,” said Amy Galette, the director of corporate relations at Philabundance. “If you think about the amount of people we serve a week, it’s enough to fill five stadiums full during Flyers games. It’d be like selling out five Flyers games per week.”

    As part of last year’s Penn Medicine Assist program, Gritty and some of the Flyers players, including Jamie Drysdale and Bobby Brink, joined the assembly line at Philabundance to help package some of the meals.

    “It was fun,” Brink said. “I mean it was nice to get a little day-in-the-life kind of vibe and help out. The environment was great, a lot of great people, and it’s always nice just giving a few hours to help.”

    Drysdale added: “We are very fortunate to be in this position that we’re in. And I don’t think it takes a lot for us to give a few hours wherever we can to kind of help out and just show some love back to the community that treats us so well.”

    Flyers Carnival: Dunking radio hosts, competing against players, and Cam York’s message to cat people
  • Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola chooses Philabundance as the recipient of a $25,000 grant

    Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola chooses Philabundance as the recipient of a $25,000 grant

    After being named the 2025 Philanthropist of the Year by the Major League Baseball Players Trust, Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola earned a $25,000 grant to donate to a charity of his choice. On Wednesday, he selected Philabundance, the largest food bank in the Greater Philadelphia region, as the recipient.

    “Aaron Nola has been helping Philabundance strike out hunger for five years,” said Loree D. Jones Brown, the chief executive officer of Philabundance. “We are deeply grateful for his generosity and partnership. Delivering food, hope, and stability to those of our neighbors who need it most is a collective effort, and we could not fulfill our mission without the crucial, consistent support of donors — and friends — like Aaron.”

    The Phillies’ Trea Turner was still the fastest man in the league at 32. And it’s not due just to ‘genetics.’

    Nola has been working with Philabundance since 2019, joining its efforts to battle food insecurity across two states in nine counties. Their partnership will continue into 2026 with Philabundance as one of the beneficiaries for Nola’s charity poker tournament on April 16 at Citizens Bank Park.

    “Aaron embodies the Players Trust’s goal of making a positive impact in the world and has demonstrated an extraordinary personal commitment to philanthropic endeavors,” said Amy Hever the executive director of the Players Trust. “Our goal is to amplify the good the Players do in their community, and we hope this grant will help Philabundance reach even more people and families experiencing food insecurity.”

    Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola was named the 2025 Philanthropist of the Year by the MLBPA.

    Nola was named the Philanthropist of the Year for all his work giving back to the community, working with Philabundance, Team Red, White and Blue — an organization for veterans and service members seeking improved physical or mental health — and ALS research.

    Although Nola was unable to attend Wednesday’s Playmakers Classic, the Players Trust’s annual fundraising and awareness event, the 11-year veteran left an important message.

    “This award means a lot to me, because giving back has always been a core part of who I am and what I believe in,” said Nola in a video message.

    “Baseball has given me so many opportunities, mentors, and teammates who feel like family, and I’ve always felt a responsibility to use that platform to make a positive impact — whether it’s supporting ALS, veterans, kids and families, or doing whatever I can to strengthen communities and help make the world a little bit better. … This is truly an honor, and it motivates me to keep doing more, both on and off the field.”