January 20, 2025 marks the celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King is a member of the Hall of Heroes at the NovaCare Complex, where a picture of him delivering his celebrated "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963 during the March on Washinigton for Jobs and Freedom sits in the lobby of the Eagles' training facility for players, front office staff, and guests to witness each and every day.
The civil rights hero was assassinated nearly 57 years ago, but his work continues to inspire the current generation – including the players who we cheer for on Sundays.
Here are several team leaders sharing what Dr. King means to them:
"We are one and we are all. Everyone has a role and in order to achieve the mission that the team has set out to achieve, everyone has to be in it together. So we want to encourage people to express themselves, be who they are, and be who God called them to be, while also buying into what it takes for the team to be successful." – Jalen Hurts on how the team prioritizes creating an inclusive and supporting team culture, where everyone feels valued and heard, similar to Dr. King's vision of community and togetherness
"Community and togetherness are the two key words that come to mind with Dr. King's vision. Without that, you would get nowhere in life. For a team that is trying to accomplish a common goal, you have to do it together. No one is bigger than the common goal. There is no one bigger than the team. When you have that mindset, you are going to go a long way. You see what Dr. King was trying to accomplish. To see where we are as a people is a beautiful thing. At the same time, there is still a long way to go." – Saquon Barkley
"Dr. King's leadership was rooted in his ability to communicate effectively and inspire action. For me, I just try to spend as much time as I can with my teammates. I'm always trying to uplift them, telling them to set goals, trying to push them even if it's uncomfortable at times. I want to maximize the most I can get out of my teammates, so we can all be better as a unit." – A.J. Brown
"Martin Luther King Jr's leadership style influenced me because he went against the grain. He didn't go with the status quo. He stood up for and died for what he believed in and created a lot of change that stands the test of time today. As a leader, I think taking action on what you believe in and standing up for what you think is right is the way to lead." – Lane Johnson
"He had a vision and did things his way. He didn't go with the flow. He swam against the stream, and I think that's really important to find what you believe in and go 100 percent at that." – Jake Elliott
"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired me to lead with integrity, purpose, and a focus on uplifting others." – Brandon Graham, the Eagles' nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award
"By letting my group break it down, everybody, one by one. Whoever needs to, I pick a guy because we all make this team who it is. It takes us all to be great, so I let everybody break it down." – Big Play Slay on how the team prioritizes creating an inclusive and supporting team culture, where everyone feels valued and heard, similar to Dr. King's vision of community and togetherness
