Jeffrey Lurie has earned one of ESPN’s top humanitarian honors for work that has stretched well beyond football and into autism research, care, and support for families across the world. The Philadelphia Eagles owner and chairman was named this year’s recipient of the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award at the 2026 Sports Humanitarian Awards during ESPYS week. Lurie was joined at the event by Stuart Scott’s daughters, as well as Jason and Kylie Kelce, as he received recognition tied to one of the franchise’s most important off-field missions.
The award honors people who have used innovation, risk-taking, and the power of sports to help disadvantaged communities while reflecting values such as fairness, ethics, respect, and fellowship. For Lurie, the recognition is connected to his leadership with the Eagles Autism Foundation and the Lurie Autism Institute, two initiatives that have helped make Philadelphia one of the sports world’s most visible platforms for autism awareness, research, and care.
The Eagles Autism Challenge began in May 2018, and the Eagles Autism Foundation, founded in 2019, has raised more than $56 million through efforts such as the annual Eagles Autism Challenge. The foundation has helped fund more than 223 research projects and community grants worldwide, according to the team, while participant-raised funds from the organization’s signature charity event are invested into autism research and care programs.
Congratulations to Jeffrey Lurie, who has been named this year’s honoree for the Stuart Scott #ENSPIRE Award at the 2026 #SportsHumanitarian Awards! pic.twitter.com/IyNb42JySO
— ESPN Citizenship (@ESPNCitizenship) July 15, 2026
Lurie’s impact expanded significantly in 2025, when the Lurie family donated $50 million to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine to establish the Lurie Autism Institute. The joint initiative between the two hospitals was described as the largest single donation to U.S. academic medical centers focused on autism research across the lifespan.
In the past decade, Lurie’s autism-focused efforts have contributed to more than $106 million in research and care. Under his leadership, the Eagles have made the Eagles Autism Challenge a franchise-wide initiative, with players, coaches, executives, and staff members participating in the annual event.
“I am truly humbled to be recognized as the recipient of this year’s Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award,” Lurie said. “This honor exemplifies the transformative power of sport and the life-changing impact it can have on people. Stuart was a trailblazer whose legacy was built on integrity, professionalism, and bravery. His authentic character and fearlessness in the face of adversity will live on forever through this distinguished award.”
Lurie has long viewed ownership of an NFL franchise as an opportunity to create impact beyond wins and losses. His autism work has focused on funding science-backed research, expanding services, and supporting children, adults, parents, caregivers, and medical communities connected to autism spectrum disorder.
“I have always envisioned that the impact of owning a professional sports franchise could extend beyond the field and into the global health community,” Lurie said. “The Eagles Autism Foundation and Lurie Autism Institute have been created to support individuals with autism and their families by funding innovative and potentially groundbreaking research rooted in science and data, in addition to providing programming and services to those in need.”
The award was created in 2015 to honor the life and legacy of Stuart Scott, the longtime ESPN broadcaster who died from cancer earlier that year. Previous recipients include Robert Kraft, Stephen Ross, Billy Bean, Brice Christianson, Dr. Richard Lapchick, Chris Evert, Steve Gleason, and Dikembe Mutombo.
For the Eagles, Lurie’s recognition adds another national honor to one of the franchise’s defining community missions. Philadelphia has built a model for how a professional sports organization can use its platform, visibility, and resources to fund research and create measurable support for families. Lurie’s latest honor confirms that the Eagles’ impact under his leadership continues to reach far beyond the field.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles’ owner Jeffrey Lurie wins Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award
