Christina Weiss Lurie: Reflecting on the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl Triumph, Empowering Women in the NFL, and Driving Philanthropic Impact

Fresh from a historic Super Bowl victory and the ensuing celebratory parade through the bustling streets of Philadelphia, Christina Weiss Lurie, a prominent minority owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, shares her profound insights and emotions. In an exclusive interview, Lurie vividly recounts the thrilling moments of the epic clash with the New England Patriots, the euphoria of the championship, and her unwavering commitment to community engagement. She also offers invaluable advice, especially for young women aspiring to achieve their dreams.

The air in Philadelphia was still buzzing with excitement as Christina Weiss Lurie, mere hours after the Eagles’ triumphant parade, reflected on the momentous achievement. “There are simply no words to describe it, but for the players, it was pure bliss, pure joy,” she revealed. The atmosphere of collective jubilation was palpable, even surpassing the game day intensity for some. “Some players were even saying, ‘This is better than the game!’ and I kept thinking, ‘No, nothing is better than the game, because we won, and we wouldn’t be in the parade without that win.'” For Lurie, 52, who, alongside her ex-husband Jeffrey Lurie, acquired the Eagles in 1994, the Super Bowl win marked the culmination of a 24-year journey, a truly “euphoric,” “cloud nine” experience. Yet, her thoughts were not solely on personal accomplishment. Instead, her focus remained firmly on the dedicated fanbase. “What’s truly incredible is Philadelphia itself. Our fans and this city have waited over half a century for this moment, and to see more than 2 million people flooding the streets in a sea of green was absolutely breathtaking! We are profoundly grateful for these ardent, passionate Eagles supporters,” she enthused, clearly moved by the city’s outpouring of emotion.

The intensity of Super Bowl LII was immense, pitting her beloved Eagles against the formidable Tom Brady-led Patriots. Christina, also a devoted mother of two, described the nerve-wracking experience from the sidelines. “I think your mind almost shuts down because you’re immersed in this incredible combat. We’ve witnessed in the past how the Patriots play fiercely until the very last second of any game, and that’s what made it so terrifying,” she explained. “I kept watching the minutes and seconds tick away, thinking, ‘There’s still too much time on the clock. How are we going to stop him? Or get the ball back if he scores?'” The tension was almost unbearable, a constant battle against the clock and the Patriots’ renowned comeback capability. It was only when Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham executed a game-changing play, forcing the ball out of Tom Brady’s hands in the dwindling final minutes, that Christina felt a flicker of relief – albeit a cautious one. “Brady fumbled, and we recovered the ball. That’s when we could finally breathe a little,” she recalled. “I had friends with me who were already wildly jumping up and down, convinced we had won. But I was still saying, ‘No, no, no, no, no,’ there’s still too much time. Let’s just hold onto hope.” And who could blame her? With a legendary quarterback like Tom Brady, famous for conjuring miracles in the clutch, celebrating prematurely would have been foolish. The true celebration could only begin after the final second had unequivocally passed.

Amidst the high-stakes drama of such an intense championship game, a lighter, yet equally important, question arises for Christina: Could she even manage a quick bathroom break? She chuckled as she admitted, “There were a couple of strategic moments where I thought, ‘Okay, nothing critical is happening right now; I’m making a run for it!'” The Super Bowl victory undeniably fulfilled a monumental dream Christina had cherished for 24 years as an Eagles minority owner. Beyond her pivotal role in the NFL, she has carved out another incredibly successful career as an independent filmmaker. In 2004, she co-founded Vox3 Films, a venture that has garnered her two Academy Awards for documentary films. Her diverse achievements highlight a remarkable journey. Below, she addresses five key questions, delving into her responsibilities as a minority owner, her advocacy for women’s opportunities within the NFL, her philanthropic endeavors, and more.

1. You’ve been very involved as a minority owner of the Eagles. What has been your primary focus and driving motivation?

Christina Weiss Lurie: My journey into the world of American football and the NFL was quite unique. I didn’t grow up in the United States; I was born in Mexico City and later raised in London. Initially, I had no concept of what an NFL team entailed, nor did I fully grasp the incredible power of sports to unite people from all different walks of life. However, when we acquired the team and relocated to Philadelphia, it quickly became apparent that this platform offered an unparalleled opportunity for positive influence within the community. That’s where I realized I could truly “get my hands dirty” and make a tangible difference. My core philosophy centered on identifying what truly matters. This led to various initiatives. For instance, recognizing the importance of environmental stewardship, we established the “Go Green” program. In 2003, driven by a desire to raise awareness about breast cancer, we launched the “Eagles Tackling Breast Cancer” campaign. There are so many diverse opportunities and innovative ways to effect change. Through our Eagles Charitable Foundation, we initially focused on providing vision care for children. This particular focus was largely inspired by our first draft pick in the inaugural year of our ownership, Jermaine Mayberry, who was legally blind in one eye due to an underdeveloped optic nerve. Given that one in five children experience vision problems, and an astounding 80% of classroom learning is visual, it’s clear that if a child cannot see, they cannot read, and if they cannot read, their ability to learn is severely hampered. This critical insight was the impetus for that initiative. More recently, Jeffrey, my ex-husband, has been deeply touched by the issue of autism. In the past few years, we’ve expanded our foundation’s umbrella to include autism awareness and support, launching the impactful Eagles Autism Challenge. Our commitment to these causes stems from a deep belief in using the Eagles’ platform to foster positive social change.

2. There are very few women in the upper echelons of NFL management, like yourself. Are there increasing opportunities for women to build successful careers within the NFL?

Christina: Absolutely, there are significant and growing opportunities for women in the NFL. For example, the head of our marketing and media department at the Eagles is a woman, who, while she’s transitioning out soon, has been an invaluable asset for five years. The landscape is indeed challenging, particularly for female coaches where the locker room environment presents unique hurdles. However, we are actively striving to break down these barriers, especially in areas like scouting, training, data analytics, and legal departments. In fact, the head of our entire legal department is an exceptionally talented woman. We are highly aware of the importance of diversity, and my ex-husband is very conscious of actively trying to create as many opportunities as possible for women across the organization. While historically this field might not have been perceived as incredibly female-centric, there’s a definite shift. At the league level, there’s also a strong recognition of this need; for instance, the former head of Pepsi marketing transitioned to a high-level role within the NFL, and she is truly fantastic. So, we are seeing more very high-level female executives. The entire organization, from the team level to the league office, is cognizant of the need to recruit, retain, and promote women in various capacities, recognizing the immense value and diverse perspectives they bring to the sport and business of football.

3. What were your thoughts and feelings regarding the NFL protests that gained prominence this year?

Christina: I genuinely feel that what transpired, particularly due to the President’s comments, unexpectedly created an opportunity. It effectively brought players and ownership together to the discussion table, fostering a much-needed dialogue. A number of our Eagles players, along with Jeffrey, have actively engaged with community members, meeting to discuss crucial issues facing our country. These discussions have allowed them to openly share their perspectives, work towards reframing the conversation, understand various viewpoints, and collaboratively seek viable solutions. It’s imperative to understand that this issue should not, and never was primarily about patriotism, as that misrepresents the core concerns. I believe our President, unfortunately, reframed it into a polarizing narrative of “you’re either a patriot or you’re not,” which entirely missed the point of the protests. Our players, on their part, have seized this moment as an opportunity to give back meaningfully to their communities. A powerful example is one of our players, Chris Long, who generously donated his entire salary this year to fund scholarships in his home state of Virginia. For him, everything fundamentally begins with education. He believes that if we cannot provide accessible education to every child in this country, we will continue to face deep-seated societal issues. So, for individuals like him, the protests weren’t about disrespecting the flag or patriotism. Instead, they were about drawing attention to the systemic issues that divide this country, the pervasive inequities, and critically, how we as individuals and as an organization can actively contribute, be helpful, be thoughtful, and ultimately work towards real, lasting solutions.

4. You’ve been deeply involved in so many important initiatives—from protecting the environment and rebuilding schools in Haiti to producing Oscar-winning films like ‘Inside Job,’ which exposed corruption, and another about a homeless teen. How can young women today continue fighting for causes they passionately believe in?

Christina: I truly believe there are myriad ways in which we, as individuals and at the state level, can actively uphold our values and work towards what we deem important. Speaking personally, I am definitely looking forward to the mid-term elections this year, with a strong hope that we can restore some sense of balance in our political discourse. I’m not attempting to pick sides, but I simply feel that we are currently operating in such a divisive environment. There’s an inclination towards extremes in every aspect, often overshadowing the pursuit of practical, collaborative solutions. Yet, the world around us is not pausing for our internal conflicts. Other nations and communities are forging ahead with significant next steps, particularly concerning critical issues like the environment, because its impact will inevitably affect everyone. My hope is that this period of extreme polarization is merely a temporary “blip” in time, and that we can soon get back on track, collectively addressing global challenges. These are undoubtedly difficult times, but they also present opportunities for determined individuals to make a stand and drive meaningful change.

5. What essential advice can you offer to young women on how to achieve their own dreams, and how to successfully combine having a demanding career and a fulfilling family life, much like you have done?

Christina: I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have been able to consistently follow my passions throughout my life. There is an abundance of things to be curious about, to be inspired by, and equally, to inspire others with. Consequently, I never allowed myself to think, “Oh, I can’t do this.” Perhaps it was a form of willful ignorance, but it served me well. Crucially, I also had a very supportive husband at the time, who genuinely believed that there were no inherent limitations that needed to be imposed upon me, which was immensely helpful in pursuing my diverse interests. I firmly believe that it is absolutely possible to have both a thriving career and raise children. When my children were younger, I made a conscious effort to take them with me into various community settings and philanthropic projects. This was not just about exposing them to different realities but truly opening their eyes to the world beyond our immediate circumstances. We have been incredibly lucky, leading what some might describe—and in some ways, yes—a somewhat “gilded” life. However, I was determined for them to deeply understand the profound gift my parents had given me: “Be curious and relentlessly pursue your dreams, but always work hard and make it happen.” When they reached high school, I told both of them, “I think you need to choose something you genuinely care about and commit to giving back to the community, whatever that specific cause may be.” My son, who excelled at math, decided to tutor kids every Saturday at a public school. My daughter, more globally minded and curious, chose to raise books for an orphanage in India. She ended up collecting an astonishing 40,000 books, far more than that single orphanage needed! This led to us making numerous trips to India with these books. It evolved into a massive project, but it was a project that profoundly inspired her throughout her high school years, demonstrating the tangible impact of dedicated effort.

Christina’s final, yet profoundly important, piece of advice resonates deeply: don’t be afraid to fail. She emphasizes that we learn our most valuable lessons from our mistakes and from overcoming difficulties. She harks back to the victorious Eagles players this very year—so many of whom were considered underdogs. They were underdogs because of injuries, or because they were deemed “not tall enough,” “not fast enough,” or “not capable of catching the ball,” or simply told “you can’t do this.” Yet, by uniting and believing in themselves, together, they did. They defied expectations and achieved the impossible.

Indeed, they did, and Christina Weiss Lurie herself embodies this spirit of perseverance and triumph in countless ways. Congratulations on the Eagles’ historic Super Bowl win, on your impactful films, and on so much more; your journey continues to inspire!