Eagles Owner Addresses Rumored Interest In Purchasing Celtics
The Philadelphia Eagles are focused on Super Bowl LIX, and team owner Jeffrey Lurie isn’t paying any mind to anything else, not even the 73-year-old’s link to the upcoming sale of the Boston Celtics franchise.
Lurie, a Boston native graduate of Boston University, became the latest billionaire tied to the awaited sale when The Ringer’s Bill Simmons reported that Lurie was among the first round of buyers. The Celtics were said to have received their first round of bids in January, and while Lurie’s $5.3 billion net worth qualifies for participation, the NFL franchise owner rejected the rumor during Super Bowl Opening Night.
“I would never say never, but I’m not looking to own another sports franchise,” Lurie informed reporters, per The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin. “The Celtics again are exceptional, they’re so well run, they’re so talented, it’s my childhood team. However, I do not expect that to happen.”
The Eagles were sold to Lurie for $185 million in 1994 after he took out a loan to finalize the sale. Philadelphia has captured one Vince Lombardi Trophy under Lurie’s tenure in Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots. Now, with a chance to win a second title, the franchise’s value has skyrocketed to over $6 billion, according to Forbes.
That’s roughly within the ballpark of what the Celtics are expected to sell for 23 years after major owner Wyc Grousbeck and Boston Basketball Partners L.L.C. bought the team for $360 million in 2002. That’s less than half the current cost of Boston’s starting lineup of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White — their combined contracts total over $900 million.
“Wyc has been an outstanding owner,” Lurie continued, per Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I love the way they’ve developed that team. We’ve got to celebrate so many banners over the years. But it’s not something that’s top of mind. My whole focus is on my love of the Eagles and to win another Super Bowl for Philadelphia. I’m obsessed, as you know.”
Lurie and the Eagles are on a title pursuit of their own, set to face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Super Bowl Sunday for the second time in three years. Philadelphia has vengeance on its mind following its first loss to Kansas City in 2023. This time, Lurie’s Eagles have a chance to prevent the Chiefs from capturing the NFL’s first three-peat since the start of the Super Bowl era (1966).
That venture is challenging enough with the red-hot streak Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are currently on.
The Celtics, meanwhile, will maintain their focus on defending their title. Boston’s gone 35-15 as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and even though the salary is a hefty tab for its next owner to pick up, that isn’t stopping the front office from exploring ways to improve before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.