The Philadelphia Eagles set aside football for a greater purpose this weekend, turning their attention to charity at Lincoln Financial Field over the weekend.
The team hosted its 8th annual Eagles Autism Challenge, their largest philanthropic initiative. Fans, players, coaches, and executives all joined in, participating in events like the Wawa Classic 30-mile bike ride, the Wawa Shorti 10-mile ride, the FreedomPay 5K run/walk, and the Sensory Walk. For those unable to attend in person, a virtual participation option was also available.
With approximately 7,266 participants and 40,00 donations worldwide, the Eagles Autism Challenge raised a record-breaking $10 million for autism research and care programs.
“In so many ways, this has been a special year, and now the success of the 2025 Eagles Autism Challenge is the latest accomplishment,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said via NBC Sports. “We have continued to hit record-breaking numbers each year since 2018, which is a testament to the support and contributions of everyone involved. On behalf of the Eagles, we sincerely thank our participants, donors, volunteers, and partners, including Lincoln Financial, for their ongoing commitment to turning awareness into action for the autism community.”
Since its inaugural event in 2018, the Eagles Autism Foundation has raised over $25 million for care and research, with every year so far being a record-breaking one.
Several current Eagles took part in the bike ride, including Cooper DeJean, Reed Blankenship, Thomas Booker, Jordan Mailata, and Laekin Vakalahi. Assistant coaches Scot Loeffler and Aaron Moorehead joined the 5K run, while Clint Hurtt chose to walk the course. Quarterback Tanner McKee and his wife Lauren also ran the 5K,
Additionally, former Eagles Jason Avant, Irving Fryar, Brandon Graham, Jason Kelce, and Harold Carmichael participated.
