NEW YORK — Christmas concerts are God’s gift to early music groups such as Piffaro (Philadelphia’s Renaissance wind band). Audience love taking refuge in holiday exuberance from what we imagine as a better, centuries-ago past.
The Thursday concert of 17th-century German music titled “Ein Kind Geborn” (A Child is Born) ― the first in a string of performances that includes Philadelphia and Wilmington ― had Piffaro fruitfully collaborating with New York’s Tenet Vocal Artists, whose finely-etched sound and deep musical comprehension make their concerts drop-everything-and-go occasions.
The partnership with Piffaro’s recorders, theorbo, and bagpipes (gentle ones) was a sound feast ― of and for a particular sort.
The question is: Are audiences ready for the kind of uncommercialized, predominantly devotional Christmas concert that many say they long for? It was exuberance without brass, flash, or modern Santa Claus mythologies, and from an era when the loudest human-made sound was church bells. One’s ears must adjust.
Tenet Vocal Artists performing “Ein Kind Geborn” with Philadelphia’s Renaissance wind band, Piffaro, at New York City’s Church of St. Vincent Ferrer on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
The brainy crowd Thursday at Church of St. Vincent Ferrer definitely took to it, with side conversations like “I wanted to hear more dulcians” (an arcane woodwind) or asking why 17th-century German texts “are so stingy with their vowels.” (Who knows.)
Composers included Michael Praetorius (1571-1621), and his durable “In dulci jubilo,” plus lesser-known contemporaries (Johann Walter, Melchior Schärer, etc.)
Devised by Piffaro artistic director Priscilla Herreid, the 75-minute intermissionless program had 18 shortish vocal/instrumental pieces, both in German and in Latin, arranged under subheadings such as “From Silence to Singing” and “Sweet Jubilation.”
Some selections were hymns, such as the famous “Von Himmel hoch” (the audience was invited to sing along); others, in a more sophisticated form known as “sacred concertos.” Composer Praetorius encouraged diverse adaptations of his music, and in that spirit, no two pieces had the same manner of expression.
Some had the five-member Tenet Vocal Artists unaccompanied (they can do that and stay perfectly in tune) or the nine-member Piffaro players (who alternate between a dozen different instruments, including dulcians) in purely instrumental works. Multi-stanza pieces were built and sustained beautifully, progressing from different pairings of voices and varied interactions with the instruments — though within a richly textured 17th-century sound envelop.
Always a highlight in Tenet concerts are sopranos Jolle Greenleaf (Tenet artistic director) and Clara Rottsolk, whose rather different voices create a compelling blend, whether positioned for antiphonal effects across church spaces, leapfrogging in counterpoint, or coming together in ways that create a shifting highlight of composite sound.
Tenet Vocal Artists performing “Ein Kind Geborn” with Philadelphia’s Renaissance wind band, Piffaro, at New York City’s Church of St. Vincent Ferrer on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
When not blending, the other Tenet voices invite one’s ears in low-key ways. This is a long way from Metropolitan Opera singing and is a relief as well as a pleasure.
In other respects, the performances were excellent though the fusion of elements is likely to be better in Philadelphia-area concerts.
There were moments when a particular member of the ensemble would poke out of the texture to lead others to the right musical destination — sometimes necessary in conductorless ensembles.
In general, Piffaro continues to evolve nicely under Herreid’s leadership. Renaissance repertoire is far less standardized than music of later centuries, and the wide possibilities constantly reveal new sounds, both ethereal and with underlying grit — thanks to Piffaro’s inclusion of folky instruments such as hurdy gurdy, the guitarlike cittern and, of course, bagpipes.
“Ein Kind Geborn,” Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square; Dec. 6, 7.30 p.m., St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Chestnut Hill; Dec. 7,3 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wilmington. $25-$49.
After many twists and turns in its coaching search over the last two months, Penn State named its next football coach on Friday.
Matt Campbell, who has been the head coach at Iowa State for the last 10 seasons, will become the Nittany Lions’ 17th full-time coach. Campbell led the Cyclones to an 8-4 record this season and has a 72-55 overall record with Iowa State.
With 19 wins over the last two seasons at Iowa State, the 46-year-old Campbell, a Massillon, Ohio, native, led the program to its best two-year stretch in history, including the Cyclones’ first double-digit win season, in 2024. In Campbell’s 10 seasons with the Cyclones, they have achieved bowl eligibility eight times.
Sources: Matt Campbell and Penn State are working toward a deal for him to become the next coach at Penn State. There’s multiple steps needed to finalize, including agreeing to terms and formal approval of compensation. pic.twitter.com/fKVu45cCNB
Although he hasn’t won the Big 12 in his tenure, he’s made two championship game appearances (2020, 2024) and has consistently maximized his rosters despite Iowa State being ranked outside the top 40 of national recruiting rankings every year he’s been in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State is ranked 50th in the 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.
Before he took over Iowa State in 2016, Campbell had a successful four-year run as Toledo’s head coach, compiling a 35-15 record and leading his team to back-to-back Mid-American Conference championship games. Overall, he spent seven seasons with Toledo, first as a run game coordinator and offensive line coach, then as the offensive coordinator in 2011 before taking over as head coach in 2012.
Campbell has a 17-28 record against teams ranked in the Associated Press top 25 poll, including four wins against AP top-10 opponents in his coaching career that has spanned Bowling Green, Mount Union, Toledo, and Iowa State in 23 years.
Matt Campbell yells to his team from the sidelines as they play Arkansas State on Sept. 13.
He has long been a name mentioned in the college football coaching carousel and was interviewed in January for the Chicago Bears’ vacant head coach opening.
The hire comes after Penn State fired James Franklin on Oct. 12, 54 days ago. The coaching search nearly came to a close earlier this week when BYU’sKalani Sitake emerged as a top candidate for Penn State on Tuesday. According to multiple outlets, Sitake was close to taking the Nittany Lions’ job before he ultimately decided to stay in Provo, Utah, and got a contract extension in the process.
Penn State chose Campbell over Terry Smith, who went 3-3 as the interim coach and helped the Nittany Lions reach bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season. Smith reportedly has drawn interest from Memphis and Connecticut to fill their head coach openings.
Campbell has some ties to the area. He was teammates with Eagles coach Nick Sirianni at Division III Mount Union from 1999 to 2002. Sirianni was a wide receiver, while Campbell was a defensive lineman. Campbell later joined the Mount Union coaching staff in 2005 as offensive coordinator, a year after Sirianni coached defensive backs for the program. Both also coached and played with current Toledo coach Jason Candle.
Campbell will have his work cut out for him at Penn State. The program only signed two players on the early national signing day and will be replacing several starters on both sides of the ball.
The Festival of Lights, now in its 50th year, kicked off its seasonal run at Rose Tree County Park in Media on Thursday night. Santa was on hand as more than 125 trees decked out in some 300,000 lights were lit for the first time this season.
Despite the chilly temperatures, spirits were high, with families coming out to see the lights, visit with Saint Nick, and shop from vendors at Delco’s first Fare & Flair night for the season.
Rose Tree County Park’s Festival of Lights was lit for the first time on Dec. 4. It will be lit nightly through Jan. 3. The Springton Lake Middle School Select Choir counts down the illumination of the 50th annual Festival of Lights at Rose Tree County Park. An attendee captured the lighting, which includes some 300,000 lights. Santa met with festivalgoers throughout the night, including 7-year-old Iris Yang. While the temperatures were cold enough for snow, only the faux kind fell during the opening night of the Festival of Lights. Three-year-old Liliana Napoletano and Marco Napoletano, both of Media, reveled in the faux snow that fell during the festival’s lighting. The display includes a walk-through lighted tunnel. A display of reindeer also returned this year. Savannah, 3, and Ace, 8, of Drexel Hill, looked at the lights.Thursday was the first night of the Delco’s Fare & Flair nights, when food trucks and vendors line the back of the park. Work to wrap some 125 trees throughout the park began in October. Even dogs came out to enjoy the festival’s kickoff on Thursday.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
For every person who signed up for Obamacare health insurance in Pennsylvania last month, two others dropped their plans in anticipation of skyrocketing costs.
The average cost of a health plan through Pennsylvania’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, Pennie, is expected to double, on average, with some people paying several times more in 2026, if Congress allows a key financial incentive program to expire at the end of this year.
Pennie leaders say sticker shock for 2026 is undermining a program they credit for driving historically low uninsured rates.
Nearly 31,000 people canceled their Pennie health plan in November, the first month of open enrollment, which runs through the end of January. About 16,000 people signed up.
Pennie administrators previously estimated that roughly 150,000 of the nearly 500,000 people who bought plans in 2025 will drop out because they find their options for 2026 unaffordable.
Some level of turnover is normal, as people move out of state, find new jobs, or become eligible for other government programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid. But the sharp rise in plan cancellations — more than the marketplace saw in all of 2025 — shows that cost remains a driving factor in health decisions.
“People want health coverage, and when it can fit in their budget, they buy it,” said Devon Trolley, Pennie’s executive director.
A partisan divide over the so-called enhanced premium tax credits was at the center of this fall’s longest-ever federal government shutdown. The subsidies have helped offset the cost of Obamacare premiums, ensuring no one spends more than 8.5% of income on health insurance through Democrats’ signature health coverage reforms implemented under President Barack Obama.
The federal budget ultimately approved by the current Republican-controlled Congress did not include an extension of the tax credits, and it is unclear whether Democrats or Republicans will be able to secure enough votes for the fixes they have proposed.
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Bucks County Republican, is proposing legislation that would extend the tax credits for two years, with some restrictions.
The subsidies have been particularly beneficial to working individuals and families who earn too much to qualify for other, income-based Obamacare tax credits, but who cannot afford to pay full price and do not have access to insurance through an employer. Income-based tax credits for people who earn below 400% of the federal poverty rate are part of the original ACA law and will not expire.
The add-on tax credits have been approved annually by Congress since 2021, and the vast majority of people who buy coverage through Pennie qualify for at least some amount of financial assistance.
Pennie will work to update rates as quickly as possible if Congress renews the tax credits before the end of the year.
In the meantime, marketplace leaders are urging people to consider all the plan options — which range from high-deductible plans with low premiums to plans with steep monthly costs but fewer out-of-pocket expenses — before canceling their coverage entirely.
Plan costs and expected increases vary, depending on age, income, and geography, which is why it is important for people to review their options, Trolley said.
Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania suburbs are expected to see costs increase an average of 40% to 70%, while costs are rising an average of 400% or more in rural communities in the middle of the state.
Increased outreach amid tax credit confusion
State-based marketplaces and their partners have ramped up marketing and outreach in an effort to make sure people are aware of the cost increases.
Pennsylvania Health Access Network has doubled the amount of text messages, phone calls, and emails it is sending past clients. Messages remind people of the deadline to enroll and urge them to review their plan online — even if they intend to keep it.
The nonprofit has seen an increase in people reaching out early for information, compared with past enrollment seasons, as well as more people waiting to make a final decision about coverage, said Antoinette Kraus, the organization’s executive director.
“We’re seeing fewer people say, ‘All right, sign me up today,’” Kraus said. “They’re taking time to figure out how this fits in the budget.”
New Jersey announced it was expanding outreach efforts for its marketplace, Get Covered New Jersey, with more than three dozen enrollment events at shopping malls and grocery stores across the state.
New Jersey has not released enrollment data for 2026.
Justin Zimmerman, commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Banking and Insurance, urged people not to put off buying a plan, despite uncertainty about tax credits. In New Jersey, people must sign up by Dec. 31 for coverage to take effect Jan. 1.
“It is especially important for consumers to shop and compare plans to find the best options for them,” Zimmerman said in a statement announcing outreach plans.
Fitting health insurance into the budget
People who are used to their plan automatically renewing at the end of the year may be particularly surprised by the new prices when insurers begin sending January premium bills by mid-December.
Pennsylvania’s deadline for insurance that begins in January is Dec. 15, but people have until the end of January to make any changes to their coverage.
That means people who are automatically reenrolled in their existing plan still have time to change it, if they realize after getting their first bill that they cannot afford it and want to look for a less expensive option.
And people who canceled their coverage earlier in the enrollment period can still sign up if they change their mind.
As of Feb. 1, when the enrollment period ends, people can still cancel their plan, but they will not be able to pick a new one until the coming fall.
The marketplace’s enrollment specialists work with people to price out all their options. But Pennie’s executive director fears that without an extension of the add-on tax credits, many will not find an option they can afford.
“We are doing the best we can to provide people with the best information,” Trolley said. “But ultimately, we cannot fill the hole of federal funding.”
Ocean City Mayor Jay A. Gillian has filed for personal bankruptcy.
The “extraordinarily difficult decision” was made after a combination of business decisions he made, personal financial obligations, and outside circumstances led to “serious financial strain” on his family, Gillian said in a statement shared on Ocean City’s government website.
“Like many individuals and families across our nation who encounter unexpected hardship, I found myself in a position where traditional methods were no longer viable,” Gillian said. “It is my hope that by being transparent and direct, others facing similar hardships will feel empowered to seek help, take responsible action, and work toward rebuilding.”
Despite this personal challenge, Gillian said his leadership of Ocean City remained “unwavering,” and he would stay in his role as mayor. In the statement, the mayor assured residents that his personal financial issues had no impact on city finances and operations were uninterrupted.
“Safeguards, oversight, and the structure of municipal government ensure that personal finances and public finances remain entirely separate,” Gillian said.
Gillian referred to his public statement when asked for additional comment.
A sign welcomes visitors to Gillian’s Wonderland Pier in Ocean City on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.
While the mayor, who has been in office since 2010, did not specify what led to the bankruptcy beyond his statement, the Gillian family, which owned Gillian’s Wonderland Pier since 1965, sold the property to developer Eustace Mita, of Icona Resorts, in 2021. At the time, the Gillian family had defaulted on $8 million in loans, with the pier as collateral.
Mita has since embarked on plans to transform the site, first into a $150 million luxury hotel, and later, into townhomes. After a City Council vote Thursday, the property is now under review by the Ocean City Planning Board to determine whether the property should be rehabilitated or rezoned for new development.
“It’s really more their process than it is ours at this time in the sense that they set the time frame,” Dave Dombrowski said. “They know we have interest, and then it’s up to them to kind of say, ‘OK, we’re ready to move forward,’ or not, whenever that ends up happening.”
That was three weeks ago. Schwarber and Realmuto have had five weeks to browse the market. By now, they have a decent idea of what’s there for them beyond the Delaware Valley. The Phillies probably do, too.
And with the baseball world set to gather again Sunday night in Orlando for the three-day winter meetings, it might finally be time for all parties to circle back to one another. In the shadow of the Magic Kingdom, of all places, the fantasyland of rumors about which teams are curious about which players will give way to a better sense of reality about whether Schwarber and Realmuto will return or move on.
The Phillies haven’t hidden their strong desire to keep both. Even though Schwarber will be 33 and Realmuto 35, and they’re central to a team that made the playoffs four years in a row but stubbed its toe in October, Dombrowski described them as “very important” and said they “mean a lot to the organization.”
With the exception of Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, owner John Middleton hasn’t lost out on a free agent that he’s wanted since the “stupid money” winter of 2018-19. And free agents have wanted to play in Philly over the last half-decade because of the culture set by Schwarber, Realmuto, et al.
No wonder most of the industry expects Schwarber and Realmuto to find their way back to the corner of Pattison and Darien.
Phillies owner John Middleton hasn’t been outbid for many free agents over the last half-decade.
But even if it feels like almost a fait accompli, the mission for their agents is to get offers that will at least drive up the price. Maybe they’ve done that. Maybe not.
Schwarber’s market is especially fascinating because it lacks most of the high-payroll teams. The Dodgers’ designated hitter is Shohei Ohtani, only the best player on the planet. The Yankees (Giancarlo Stanton) and Astros (Yordan Alvarez) are set at DH, too. George Springer had a career renaissance as a DH for the Blue Jays, who are in on seemingly every marquee free agent except Schwarber. The Cubs appear to be focused on pitching.
The Red Sox want to add a middle-of-the-order bat, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said last month, and Alex Cora loved managing Schwarber in 2021. But given their lineup’s lefty lean and Fenway Park’s dimensions, righty-hitting Pete Alonso or Alex Bregman might be better fits. And Boston doesn’t spend money like it once did, either.
The Reds’ interest in bringing Schwarber home to southwest Ohio is real, multiple sources confirmed this week. It makes sense for a young team that is rich in starting pitching but lacking power and veteran leadership. Asked in July about the prospect of being courted by his childhood team, Schwarber said this: “I think it’d be awesome.”
But the Reds intend to keep their payroll in the $120 million range, president of baseball operations Nick Krall told reporters last month, leaving them with about $20 million to spend for 2026. Schwarber figures to cost at least $30 million per year.
And even if they had the cash, spending big for free agents isn’t in the Reds’ organizational DNA. They’ve done only two nine-figure contracts in their history, and Joey Votto and Homer Bailey were extensions. Their largest free-agent contracts: Mike Moustakas and Nick Castellanos, both four years, $64 million.
That leaves, well, who? Various reports have linked Schwarber to the Giants and Pirates (seriously).
The Mets are “in the mix” for Schwarber, at least according to an ESPN.com report. It’s plausible as a backup plan if New York doesn’t re-sign Alonso, although president of baseball operations David Stearns emphasized run prevention as the team’s chief offseason focus. Schwarber doesn’t help there.
But the best way for Schwarber’s agents to hike the price on the Phillies might be to claim interest from the rival Mets, owned by Steve Cohen, the wealthiest man in baseball. And the Mets could attempt to gain leverage over Alonso by suggesting they’d pivot to Schwarber.
In any case, the Phillies remain the favorite in the Schwarber derby.
“You have the owner who wants him, you have Dave Dombrowski who wants him, you have the coaching staff, you have [manager] Rob Thomson, you have a fan base — everybody involved here wants [him] to be back, including Kyle — so what does it come down to?” hitting coach Kevin Long, who is close with Schwarber, said on The Inquirer’s Phillies Extra podcast. “What’s his market value, and are we willing to give him his market value? And I think the answer is yes to that.
“I think it would be devastating to this organization and this fan base and everybody involved if he wasn’t a Phillie.”
The last five weeks have been about establishing market value for Schwarber and Realmuto. Next week might finally mark the Phillies’ chance to meet it.
A few other thoughts leading into the winter meetings:
Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm is once again a candidate to be traded in the offseason.
Trading places
Two of the most intriguing offseason moves so far were one-for-one trades of major leaguers.
The Orioles swapped four years of control over gifted but often-injured pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for walk-year outfielder Taylor Ward. Then, the Mets dealt popular outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien in a change-the-mix move.
Across the sport, the trade market is hyperactive, multiple team officials said this week, perhaps because some clubs are wary of signing free agents to multiyear contracts amid labor uncertainty beyond 2026.
Once again, Alec Bohm‘s name will come up in the Phillies’ conversations. But they couldn’t agree on his value in trade talks last winter, and it figures to be even lower now that the third baseman is one season from free agency.
Lefty reliever Matt Strahm could be another potential chip, especially after Dombrowski volunteered in an end-of-year news conference that the veteran declined to do pitcher fielding drills before the postseason.
Rivals believe the Phillies prefer trading from their major league roster rather than the farm system after moving teenage shortstop Starlyn Caba (for Jesús Luzardo) and catcher Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel (for Jhoan Duran) within the last calendar year. Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, and Justin Crawford are thought to be largely off limits, with Painter and Crawford ticketed for the opening-day roster and Miller close behind.
As long as the Phillies cling to that trio, it’s difficult to see them matching up with the Diamondbacks for second baseman Ketel Marte, the Red Sox for outfielder Jarren Duran, or especially the Twins for center fielder Byron Buxton, if Buxton decides to waive his no-trade clause.
But maybe there’s a trade to be made for someone like Astros center fielder Jake Meyers, a solid defender who batted .292 with a 103 OPS-plus this season and is reportedly available.
Jesús Luzardo had a big season for the Phillies after being acquired in a trade last December.
Making a pitch
A year ago, the Phillies weren’t focused on starting pitching at the winter meetings. But they traded for Luzardo a few weeks later, and it wound up as their best offseason move.
Just something to keep in mind.
Because although the rotation remains the strength of the roster even amid the expected departure of free agent Ranger Suárez, there are questions. Aaron Nola is coming off an injury-interrupted season in which he posted a 6.01 ERA. Painter’s prospect shine isn’t quite as luminescent after he struggled in triple A.
Oh, and although Zack Wheeler is close to throwing a ball again, a source said this week, the recovery from thoracic outlet decompression surgery isn’t always a linear process.
And Dombrowski, who values starting pitching as much as any executive in the sport, recently noted the drop-off after Cristopher Sánchez, Luzardo, Wheeler, Nola, Taijuan Walker, and Painter.
“We don’t have a lot of starting pitching depth, so that’s something that we have to be cognizant of,” he said. “It’s not our highest priority, but I can’t say that we wouldn’t [add another starter]. That doesn’t necessarily mean top of the market, but where does that fit in? Because you never have enough starting pitching.”
After making a bid for Yamamoto two years ago, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Phillies show interest in Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai. Or maybe they will be opportunistic in the trade market again.
One other bit of winter-meetings business: The Phillies are still looking for a bench coach. Don Mattingly remains a leading candidate, if he’s interested in returning to the dugout after leaving the Blue Jays’ staff after the World Series.
The saga of Gillian’s Wonderland Pier continues as Ocean City Council voted last night to allow the local planning board to take the next steps in the property’s future.
Councilmembers voted 4-3 to refer the 600 Boardwalk Avenue site to the Ocean City Planning Board to evaluate its possible rehabilitation.
“This is basically a first step in what could potentially be an extensive review process, if it were to continue to move forward,” said Doug Bergen, Ocean City’s public information officer.
City Council President Terry Crowley Jr. and council members Jody Levchuk, Tony Polcini, and Pete Madden voted in favor, while Keith Hartzell, Dave Winslow, and Sean Barnes voted against.
This means the council is requesting the planning board to deem the property “an area of rehabilitation,” which kick-starts a wave of inspections, public input, and planning.
In the next 45 days, Bergen said the planning board must assess the site and make a recommendation to City Council on whether the once iconic amusement park property meets the criteria for rehabilitation. If council votes to make that determination, then the site developer and owners can negotiate with City Council to devise a redevelopment plan. “With lots of further review down the road,” Bergen said.
A coalition of various business associations, from restaurants to boardwalk shops, put pressure on City Council Wednesday in a news conference. Both the presidents of the Boardwalk Merchants Association — co-owner of Surf Mall, Wes Kazmarck — and the local restaurants association — owner of Cousin’s, Bill McGinnity — were joined on Wednesday by the Philadelphian property developer Eustace Mita.
Since the nearly century-old boardwalk amusement park closed last year, plans for the site’s redevelopment have been swirling around town. Mita initially proposed a 7-story luxury hotel, the “Icona in Wonderland Resort,” but council members refused to send that proposal to the planning board in August.
A month later, Mita announced that he was considering transforming the site into townhouses, after courting offers from Phillip Norcross (brother of South Jersey power broker George E. Norcross III) and from Virginia-based NVR Inc., to redevelop the site.
Now, the site’s future will be in the hands of the planning board’s assessment, which, for some business owners, is the right call. In a video posted to Facebook earlier this week, Kazmarck urged Ocean City residents to contact their council members and ask them to vote in favor of the planning board review.
“This is about City Council being able to make a better decision on what to do with this property. Everyone’s opinion here is a valuable opinion, but I think now we’re at that point where we should bring in experts,“ Kazmarck said. ”That’s the planning board. The planning board hires experts to evaluate the site to decide if the site should be an area of rehabilitation.”
While it may feel like redevelopment plans are coming swiftly, Kazmarck reassured residents that local business owners have been discussing these next steps since last year, he said in the video.
Guests surrounded the roulette tables, lined up their chips, and prepared for a night of giving back at the fourth annual Flyers Casino Night. Each year the fundraiser invites fans to interact with players as they participate in casino-style games, making it a team-favorite event.
“It’s a great night for a good cause,” said goaltender Samuel Ersson. “It’s one of those nights you always look forward to and circle on your calendar. So it’s nice to finally be here.”
Similar to last year’s Casino Night, the event featured a silent auction that included signed memorabilia from a number of different Philly athlete of all sports — including a pair of signed Allen Iverson Reeboks — as well as trips to destination vacation spots such as Italy, Mexico, and Croatia, and plenty of signed Flyers merch.
All proceeds from the event go toward Flyers Charities, to support their mission of “creating strong communities by eliminating financial barriers and reviving play spaces to grow the game of hockey and aiding local families affected by cancer throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.”
According to Blair Listino, the president of Flyers Charities, the event continues to grow each year — adding more sponsors and even more fan activations, including a new venue, a new area for guests to get live watercolor portraits, and a spot to make their own Boxbar charm bracelets.
“Every year we try to be a little bit creative about different prizes,” said Listino, who is also CFO of Comcast Spectacor and the Flyers’ alternate governor. “And every year there’s a lot of new faces. We have a lot of new sponsors and I think it’s really exciting. It’s just showing that this event has been growing every single year and more people want to get involved.”
Jamie Drysdale shows off his new suit on the red carpet.
Vie, located on Broad Street, rolled out the red carpet and players dressed to impress as they prepared to interact with fans. Flyers centers Christian Dvorak and Trevor Zegras arrived in Christian Dior and Ferragamo dress shoes, respectively. Meanwhile, 23-year-old defenseman Jamie Drysdale made a last-minute trip to State & Liberty on Walnut Street.
“Well, I didn’t have a black suit,” Drysdale said. “And I figured Casino Night you kind of need a darker suit — navy, black. So, I went out and got this yesterday.”
Although each player had a different red carpet look, they each shared the same answer when asked what they were looking forward to the most from the night: celebrating a good cause with fans.
“It’s awesome,” said forward Owen Tippett. “The fan interaction is a lot of fun. You get to meet all the fans that come out and support us, as well as mingle around and play games.”
Last season, through fundraising events like their Casino Night, Flyers Carnival, and Gritty 5K, Flyers Charities raised over $1.5 million.
The Eagles currently sit at 8-4 entering Week 14 and if the season ended today, would slot into the No. 22 spot in the 2026 NFL draft.
They have aspirations to repeat as Super Bowl champions, but it’s never too early to look ahead at the next crop of draft prospects. And with a few position groups needing an upgrade or depth added, the Eagles should be keeping an eye to the future for the next crop of NFL stars.
Here are nine players the Eagles should be watching during conference championship weekend:
Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
Pound-for-pound, there may not be a more explosive and physically imposing player than Reese in this draft class. Reese, a 6-foot-4, 243-pound linebacker, is a budding star with endless potential to play several roles for an NFL defense.
His closing speed, ability to rush the passer as a blitzer, along with his block-shedding strength, make him a unique player who can play at the line of scrimmage and in the middle of a defense. In his first year as a starter, he has 61 tackles (10 for loss), 6½ sacks, two pass deflections, and 23 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
#OSU LB Arvell Reese is such an effective QB spy because of his closing speed explosiveness and range, and he's an incredibly physical run stopper. Fast enough to beat blocks, strong enough to shed them.
He is projected as a top-five pick and might end up well out of the Eagles’ range, barring a move up. But Reese could end up in the division with the Giants or Commanders, and projects as a player who will be making plays on Sundays next year.
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
Most people who have watched Ohio State over the last two seasons know his name. Downs is the younger brother of Colts wide receiver Josh Downs and is already the higher-profile player of the pair. Caleb Downs is instinctual, savvy, and always around the ball, making tackles against the run and taking away passes over the middle of the field.
Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs (2) celebrates against Michigan last Saturday.
Because he’s a safety, Downs, who is listed at 6-0, 205 pounds, won’t be valued highly in the first round of the NFL draft. But he provides three-level support, has ball production to match (six interceptions, 18 passes defended in three years), and has shown the ability to cover tight ends and slot receivers.
Corner may be a more pressing need for the Eagles currently, but Downs is an impressive player who raises the floor of a defense. He did so at Alabama (where Downs began his career in 2023) and now at Ohio State.
Carter Smith, OT, Indiana
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
While all eyes will be on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, projected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 draft, the Eagles should be keeping an eye on left tackle Smith, who has allowed just one sack and six quarterback pressures this year.
Smith, who is listed at 6-5, 313 pounds, is a composed hand striker who has showcased strong grip strength as a pass blocker and can anchor down against power rushers. He also works to get his hands inside the body of defensive linemen and once he has them in his grips, they can rarely escape.
#Indiana LT Carter Smith has excellent grip strength and does a nice job with his initial strike in stopping defenders in their tracks. Consistently works to replace his hands and has shown the ability to anchor against power.
He has a tough assignment matching up against Ohio State’s defensive line, led by Kenyatta Jackson, who has 10 sacks this season. But Smith rarely gets beat in pass protection, and while his run blocking can continue to improve, he’s shown potential as a starter-level offensive lineman.
D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
Ponds, the standout Indiana defensive back who followed head coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison to the Hoosiers, is undersized at 5-9, 173 pounds, but he more than makes up for it with his play.
#Indiana DB D'Angelo Ponds (5-9, 170) may be undersized, but he's got great ball skills, is physical at the catch point, and hasn't allowed a touchdown this season across 346 coverage snaps. Big test this weekend matching up against Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith. pic.twitter.com/xY8oKtSdQc
Teams are not throwing his way as often this season, but he still attacks the football with ferocity and is physical at the catch point. He will have a tough task this weekend containing Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, both first-round caliber receivers. But if he has a strong game, he could quiet the size concerns that teams may have about him.
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)
There aren’t many players built like Proctor, who is 6-7, 366 pounds, and has the athleticism to catch a pass in space. The Alabama left tackle is a physical presence as a run blocker and overwhelms pass rushers with his size in pass protection.
There has been week-to-week inconsistency with his game, though. He struggles with his balance at times, and he doesn’t possess elite foot quickness, though he makes up for it with his frame and power.
Elite game tape from #Alabama LT Kadyn Proctor against Tennessee. Dominant as a run blocker and has some quality finishes as a pass protector against a really good pass rush.
Proctor’s evaluation will be interesting to watch because some teams may prefer to keep him at tackle, while others may move him to guard to take advantage of his run blocking ability. Still, Proctor is a strong prospect at a position that is top-heavy and lacks quality depth. He should be of interest to the Eagles, whether they view him as a guard or tackle.
Keon Sabb, S, Alabama
Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)
The Glassboro native Sabb, who was teammates with current Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell at IMG Academy and Alabama, has had a strong year after his 2024 season was cut short with a foot injury. He picked up where he left off last season, tallying 40 tackles (2.5 for loss), one interception, and three pass deflections.
After a foot injury cut his season short last year, #Alabama Safety Keon Sabb, the Glassboro, N.J. native, has been active as a low-hole defender this season. Has aligned at nickel and both safety spots this season, but really excels covering and taking away routes over the MOF. https://t.co/alOOiqtYhQpic.twitter.com/lcJJjxruSp
Sabb has positional flexibility, having played some nickel at both Michigan and Alabama. He excels most in taking away routes over the middle of the field and closing on passes from safety depth. With the Eagles’ struggles in the secondary, his addition could not only provide depth but also flexibility to play multiple spots.
Georgia tight end Oscar Delp (4) has not been one of college football’s most productive players but plays an increasingly critical position.
Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)
The production isn’t eye-popping for Delp, who has just 17 catches and one touchdown in 2025, but the Georgia tight end’s talent is displayed in small bursts, and it’s easy to project him to outproduce his college stats in the NFL.
The 6-5, 245-pound player is a vertical threat as a pass catcher and likely won’t be a do-it-all tight end because he’s not a consistent blocker yet. But when the Bulldogs feature him in the passing game, he makes teams pay after the catch. Of his 235 receiving yards this season, 135 have come on yards after catch, according to PFF.
With the struggles the Eagles have experienced at the tight end position and an aging Dallas Goedert, it may be time to invest in a tight end via the draft. Delp brings more receiving upside but would be a nice addition to the Eagles’ tight end room.
David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Texas Tech vs. BYU, Saturday (noon, 6abc)
Though he’s an undersized pass rusher, Bailey, who transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford, leads college football in pressures (70) and sacks (12½) in 2025. Possessing a quick first step, Bailey is a speed rusher who can generate immediate wins against opposing tackles on the outside track and has a speed-to-power pass rush move that is difficult to stop.
His run defense must improve, but Bailey generated pressure on true pass sets 41.8% of the time, per PFF. In a class without many top-end edge rushers, Bailey will likely be drafted early and can make an instant impact on third downs at the NFL level.
Chandler Rivers, DB, Duke
Virginia vs. Duke, Saturday (8 p.m., 6abc)
After a breakout season as a junior in 2024, Duke hybrid defensive back Rivers has continued his strong play, collecting two interceptions, eight passes defended, and one forced fumble in 12 games this season. He has aligned as both an outside corner and nickel, and has even taken snaps at safety this season.
#Duke DB Chandler Rivers has inside-out versatility to play both the corner and nickel spots, and has made plays from a variety of alignments in the secondary. Instinctual player who does a nice job playing through the hands of WRs and a willing tackler in space. pic.twitter.com/qSb8FW225N
The alluring part of his game is his coverage from multiple spots. He covers ground much better in zone coverage with his eyes reading the quarterback, is physical at the catch point, a willing tackler, and gets his hands on the football (seven interceptions, 29 passes defended in his career).
Per PFF, he has taken 530 snaps at outside corner and 148 at nickel. He projects best as a nickel since he stands at 5-10, 185 pounds, but he’s a playmaker who brings value at multiple spots in a secondary.
The Eagles bring their two-game losing streak with them to sunny California for a Monday Night Football showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
It’s a matchup of 8-4 teams jockeying for playoff positioning in their respective conferences.
No Jalen Carter against a team with one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, with the Eagles coming off a game in which they allowed 281 yards on the ground. The Eagles’ offense hasn’t produced more than 21 points in their last four games. The maligned offensive coordinator’s house was vandalized.
All signs point to a Chargers win and the continuation of an Eagles collapse that has people pointing to 2023 for a comparison, right?
The oddsmakers don’t seem to agree. The Eagles are a 2½-point favorite, according to ESPN Bet as of Thursday evening. And that feels about right.
Justin Herbert is wearing a cast on his left hand, and the Chargers have a passing attack that should play into the Eagles’ hands, as long as they’re able to stop the run and get Herbert into third-and-longs. That may seem like a big ask without Carter, and it is, but the Eagles have had a solid enough run defense for most of the season to think Vic Fangio and Co. will make sure the last performance was just a one-game blip.
The Chargers do have a good defense, particularly their pass defense. But they did give up 30 first downs and 35 points to the Jaguars just a few weeks ago, a game that included Jacksonville rushing for 192 yards.
I keep thinking each game is a get-right game for the Eagles, and while I’m not sure the offense necessarily breaks out Monday night, I expect the Eagles to do enough to win the game, especially given the potential limitations facing Herbert.
Something about this game is giving Bears 2.0 vibes.
Like the Bears, the Chargers are a team with a strong record against a favorable schedule, leaving some room for doubt about the legitimacy of their success this season.
But unlike the Bears, the Chargers are arguably more well-rounded on both sides of the ball. Herbert is one of the league’s best passers, ranking in the top five in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns since he entered the league in 2020. When Herbert is incapacitated, like he was last week with his fractured nonthrowing hand, the Chargers’ run game compensated with nearly 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The Chargers are at a disadvantage on the offensive line, as evidenced by Herbert’s third-most sacks in the league this season (38). But the Eagles will be missing one of their top defenders in Carter (shoulders), giving the Chargers a break on the interior. If Herbert is limited by his injury, the Chargers are going to want to run the ball again, and the Carter-less Eagles can’t afford a repeat of the D’Andre Swift-Kyle Monangai experience.
Meanwhile, Hurts and the Eagles offense are set to face one of the best passing defenses in the league in the Chargers, who have only given up 168 yards through the air per game (No. 2 in the NFL).
The Eagles cannot afford to fall behind the sticks in this game due to penalties or negative plays. The Chargers will make them pay — they have 16 sacks on third down this season, which is tied for the third most in the league. The Eagles, conversely, have converted just 34.5% of their third downs, which ranks 28th.
On one hand, I find it hard to believe that this Eagles team, with all of its talent, will lose three straight games for the first time since 2023. On the other, these matchups aren’t exactly favorable for the Eagles, even with an injured Herbert factored into the equation.
Omarion Hampton is trending to play Monday night, giving the Chargers a two-headed rushing attack against the Eagles. Does that remind you of anything? The Eagles failed to stop the run on Black Friday as Swift and Monangai combined for 255 yards. Expect the Chargers to attack the same way, especially as Herbert is expected to play a week after surgery on his nonthrowing hand. Hampton and Kimani Vidal, who has been excellent since Hampton went on injured reserve, will be even more of a challenge thanks to the absence of Carter.
Just one team has gained more than 100 yards on the ground against the Chargers over the last five weeks so it’s hard to see this being the week that the Eagles finally get Saquon Barkley going. The best route to beat them could be through the air as Geno Smith had his highest completion percentage (78.3) of the season last week but the Chargers still won by 17. But it’s hard to express much confidence in the Birds’ aerial attack after Black Friday. This seems like a tough spot.
