Sunday, August 9, 2026

How the Eagles Reinvented Championship Roster Construction

The Eagles are playing in yet another Super Bowl, thanks to the franchise’s surprising techniques around ownership, the salary cap, and on-field strategy.

Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates with running back Saquon Barkley (26) after the Eagles defeat the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium.
Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images

The Eagles have arrived at their second Super Bowl in three seasons, and third since they won the Lombardi Trophy in February 2018. The franchise continues to reinvent championship roster construction and the ownership structure itself.

In December, the NFL formally approved the sale of an 8% minority stake that valued the Eagles at $8.3 billion. While Philadelphia’s majority owner Jeffrey Lurie considered bringing in private equity partners under new league rules, he ultimately opted for two family investment groups that bought in separately.

That new valuation is a bump from the roughly $6.75 billion estimated by several preseason lists (the Cowboys were No. 1 at around $10 billion).

The latest stakes—totaling roughly $664 million—are more than triple the $185 million Lurie paid for the club in 1994. Lurie, 72, still owns 85% of the Eagles, with other minority investors making up the other 7% or so.  

During the postseason, the Eagles had the rare opportunity to host—and win—three home playoff games at Lincoln Financial Field. That success in January came after a 14–3 regular season and NFC East championship that earned the Eagles the conference’s No. 2 seed.

While star running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts get the credit for performing on the field, Philadelphia boasts an all-star front office led by executive vice president and GM Howie Roseman.

Roseman lost personnel decision-making power during the Chip Kelly era (2013–2015) but since returning in 2016 has become a salary-cap wizard en route to building on one of the league’s most feared rosters. Given the Eagles’ recent success, Roseman, 49, should likely be in line for another contract extension (in 2022, he signed one through the 2025 NFL season). 

“I’ll do anything for a championship,” Roseman said Monday at Super Bowl Opening Night. 

The main question mark is sustainability: The franchise already has more than $1.2 billion in cap allocations between 2025 and 2030—the most in the NFL. Roseman has been a proponent of using void years—which stretch a player’s cap hit past the seasons included in his contract—to ensure additional space in the short term.

Hurts, who signed a five-year, $255 million extension in 2023, is by far the highest-paid player on the team with an average annual salary value of $51 million through the 2028 season. 

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is nearing the end of the five-year, $35 million contract he signed in 2021. His $7 million annual salary had him just outside the 10 highest-paid coaches in the NFL before the season. (“His future is going to be great,” Lurie said this week.)

A win over the Chiefs would virtually guarantee extensions and big raises for the Eagles’ main cast. But, given it would be just the third major professional sports championship for the city of Philadelphia since 1983, a victory could also give Lurie leverage as he considers future stadium options, with the Eagles’ lease at Lincoln Financial Field set to expire in 2032. 

At Super Bowl Opening Night, Lurie was asked about the idea of building a dome or stadium with a retractable roof.

“I love outdoor football,” he said. “I love it. I love the cold games. I like the hot games. I like the snow games. On the other hand, does Philadelphia deserve to host the Super Bowl? The NCAA Final Four? Lots of great events. It’s an incredible sports city. Does it deserve that? Yes, so you’ve got to balance all of those things.”

If the Eagles dethrone the Chiefs and win Super Bowl LIX, the city of Philadelphia might let Lurie do anything he wants.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

The Rams Juggernaut Is More Than ‘F Them Picks’

How a Super Bowl favorite was built in L.A.
Exclusive

Clay Travis to Launch New Sports Media Outfit Before Football Season

The new company is expected to include video content from his radio show.

Money Suddenly Floods NFL’s Running Back Market

The long-overlooked position gets a big jolt of new energy. 
Fanduel logo appears in this illustration taken April 22, 2026.

Gambling Industry Gears Up for ‘Arms Race’ This NFL Season

“Competition is fierce,” BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Investing in Women’s Sports. A Conversation with Jason Wright

0:00

Featured Today

Joey Spallina of the Maryland Whipsnakes

How Eye Black Became ‘War Paint’ on the Field

“You’re going into battle, doing something you only do on game days.”
August 6, 2026

Tom Brady Explains His Aggressive Push Into Trading Cards

Brady talked to FOS about his eponymous card company.
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - April 23, 2026 Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav in action
August 5, 2026

India Is Stealing Cricket’s Throne From England and Australia

India’s insatiable appetite for cricket has shifted the traditional locus of power.
WPBL
July 30, 2026

Who’s Playing Women’s Professional Baseball?

Sixty players from 11 countries are descending on Illinois for six weeks.
Tom's Watch Bar
July 17, 2026

Sports Bars Are Cashing In From Summer of Soccer

The World Cup has brought a windfall to America’s biggest sports bars.
Jul 22, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) hits a double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium

Yankees Are Polymarket’s Latest Big Sports Swing

Polymarket became the exclusive prediction-market partner of MLB in March.
First at FOS
August 4, 2026

WNBA Season-Ticket Holders Grapple With Soaring Prices

WNBA teams are hiking prices as the league explodes.
Jul 31, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) first baseman Matt Olson (28) pitcher Elieser Hernandez and catcher Joey Bart (16) react after defeating the Washington Nationals at Truist Park.
August 5, 2026

BravesVision Rollout Drags Braves Revenue Lower

Quarterly revenue and operating income fell for the MLB club.
Sponsored

Saints Great Turns to Ownership

Marques Colston discusses his Champions Fund launch and finding success after football.
August 2, 2026

Tarik Skubal Heads to Dodgers in Blockbuster Trade

The two-time defending champions landed the Tigers’ ace.
Jul 27, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) is greeted at home plate by center fielder Tyrone Taylor (28) after hitting a two run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning at Citi Field.
July 30, 2026

Meet the Mets’ Prediction-Market Pick: Novig

The Mets chose Novig over industry giants like Kalshi and Polymarket.
July 29, 2026

Shohei Ohtani’s Health Has Become Dodgers’ Biggest Question

The two-way phenom is not pitching and slumping offensively.
July 26, 2026

49ers’ Strange Offseason Takes Another Turn With Shanahan Crash

Shanahan will be limited for the start of training camp.