Jeffrey Lurie Leads Eagles Team Meeting on Race Relations

Many professional sports teams and leagues have made statements in support of the black community after the wrongful killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. Philadelphia Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie put those words into action Wednesday, leading a dialogue amongst players and team personnel about race in America.

As reported by ESPN, Lurie asked to be included in the team's virtual meeting to show his support to the players and to gain a better understanding of their experiences during this incredibly painful time. We have a ton of respect for Lurie for being willing to listen and learn, and it seems like his players appreciated it too. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who spoke to the team at the meeting, commended Lurie, quarterback Carson Wentz and tight end Zach Ertz for speaking out prior to the discussion.

The discussion at the meeting was obviously impactful, because several Eagles released statements about racial injustice in the aftermath. Center Jason Kelce made a lengthy and emotional post on Instagram and said Jackson inspired him. Kicker Jake Elliott also made a post on Twitter about his response to the meeting.

Lurie has been a bit wishy-washy in the past on racial justice and peaceful protests. He criticized Colin Kaepernick back in 2017 and was vague about his stance on Eagles who chose to protest during the anthem. However, this discussion seems like it was much more than PR.

We can't commend Lurie enough for giving his players a forum to voice their feelings as black men in America. The conversations happening within the Eagles organization are only going to strengthen the team's bond and understanding of each other, and that's something we all need right now. Every team in every league should be taking notes and following this example.