"He’s all in on the Eagles and has been since Day 1. For a kid who is growing up in L.A. and who has never been here—this is his first trip to Philadelphia— I just felt like it was important for him to see it and feel it", John Stewart’s voice cracks slightly as he says this, like a quarterback calling an audible under pressure.
Picture a dad in Los Angeles, 2,700 miles from Philly, raising a son who bleeds midnight green. Jack, nearly 11, tackles flag football like it’s fourth-and-goal. But for Stewart, every snap feels heavier than a Lombardi Trophy.
The Eagles’ grip on fans isn’t just about tailgates or Tush Pushes. It’s generational, like passing down a weathered playbook. Stewart grew up in Delaware County, where Eagles fandom is inherited. Now in L.A., he’s raising Jack far from the Linc’s roar. Yet something deeper bonds them: a silent struggle, hidden behind Jack’s smile.
A Father’s Touchdown Moment
Saturday’s Eagles Autism Challenge unveiled Stewart’s mission. He flew Jack to Philadelphia for the Sensory Walk, a 5K celebrating neurodiversity. “I wanted him to feel that love,” Stewart said. Over 7,200 participants—a record—flooded the Linc, raising $10 million for autism research.
For Stewart, it was Step 2 in a playbook only parents like him understand. The Eagles Autism Foundation’s impact?
$40 million raised since 2018. “We began the season in South America, in Brazil, and the Eagles Autism Foundation mobilized. We held a scientific symposium, brought researchers together,” said Executive Director Ryan Hammond. From Brazil symposiums to sensory-friendly Super Bowl parades, the Eagles blend gridiron glory with grassroots change.
Chairman Jeffrey Lurie, whose brother Peter is autistic, calls it “liberating” to prioritize others’ well-being.
Why This Matters Beyond the Field
Philly isn’t just drafting playmakers—it’s building legacies. The Eagles pioneered NFL sensory rooms in 2019 and partnered with Popcorn for the People, employing autistic adults. Even Jalen Hurts kicked off Saturday’s event, blending star power with purpose. “It’s a giant party where everyone shows love,” Stewart said, watching Jack dance post-walk.
“It’s a giant party where everyone shows love,” Stewart said, watching Jack dance post-walk. But here’s the twist.
This isn’t just philanthropy. The Eagles’ community DNA fuels their locker room. Lurie’s mantra—“win big, stay humble”—echoes in events like these. When 45,000 fans donated $506K at a 2019 training camp, it proved fandom transcends wins.
A Legacy of Inclusion
The Eagles’ secret weapon? Authenticity. Stewart’s journey—from L.A. dad to advocate—mirrors the Foundation’s reach. Families from Sweden to Australia now rally under the Eagles’ banner. “It’s in my blood,” Stewart said. For Jack, Saturday wasn’t just football—it was belonging.
As the 2025 schedule drops, Philly’s prime-time streak continues. But off-field, the Eagles rewrite playbooks daily. From sensory-friendly parades to global research, they’re proving trophies aren’t their only measure of greatness.
“To know that the team that I care so much about actually cares about him means so much to me,” Stewart said. And Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate.” The Eagles—and dads like John Stewart—are nailing the assignment.
How does your team turn fandom into action?