Starting Thursday, Owen Tippett will begin preparations for his seventh full NHL season and fifth in Philly. For the 27-year-old, the memories aren’t always at the forefront, but now and then, a picture pops up and reminds him of his days skating as a kid in Toronto.
This is why the Flyers winger is also entering his third straight season serving as an ambassador for the Flyers Learn to Play Rookie Program.
“Obviously, that’s how a lot of hockey careers start, is in learn to play. Anytime you get a program that kind of helps out the way the Flyers do, it’s always nice to help them out when you can, and to have your name behind something like that means a lot,” said Tippett. His wife, Taylor, who also grew up playing hockey, is joining him as an ambassador.
“We all started out at that point, and I can still remember playing and learning how to skate, too. So to pay it back in any way is always special.”
Launched in 2017, the Flyers Learn to Play Rookie Program has introduced more than 6,700 kids to hockey. Last year saw a record-breaking 33% increase in registration and more than 200 girls participating.
Many of those girls first got a taste of the sport on World Girls Hockey Weekend, where young women can try hockey for free. This year, the weekend will be held Oct. 16-18 at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees or Havertown’s Skatium.
“If you’re a kid that’s growing up playing hockey in this area, odds are you’re going to be a Flyers fan — we hope that’s the case — but we try and make sure that we’re always present in the rinks and in the hockey community, sort of at every step of development, so that they always feel that pull and they feel that connection to the Flyers,” Rob Baer, the team’s senior director of community relations and hockey development, told The Inquirer. ”It starts at the very beginning.”
The Flyers’ Learn to Play program costs $299 and outfits each kid from head to toe with equipment.Courtesy of the Flyers
To grow the game and make participating in the sport easier despite the steep cost, each player in the program gets outfitted from head to toe with hockey equipment — including skates and a bag to carry all the gear — a personal welcome message from the Tippetts, a certificate of completion signed by Owen, and the chance to meet Flyers alumni at select sessions.
This season, the program, which costs $299, will operate at 20 rinks across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Families seeking financial assistance can apply for the 2026 Flyers Charities Scholarship.
On Monday, after wrapping up his own hockey session — he said he is “all good” and ready to go after missing the second round of the playoffs due to an internal bleeding issue and an unrelated sports hernia — Tippett met two graduates of the Learn to Skate program. Tessa Kobal, 7, from Voorhees, and 8-year-old Eleanor McDermott from Cherry Hill. Both were brand new to the sport this past spring.
“There was this birthday party; it was an ice skating birthday party, and I liked ice skating, so my parents signed me up for Learn to Skate, and I decided I wanted to do hockey, not figure skating,” said Eleanor, who, like Tessa, participated in a girls-only session of the Learn to Play program this spring.
“She hadn’t touched a hockey stick — we did skating — and then she said, ‘Well, I kind of like hockey,’” added Eleanor’s father, Travis McDermott. “Then Learn to Play came up and she did that once and [it was like], ‘Oh, yeah, tryouts are next week.’”
Without much preparation, Eleanor and Tessa each tried out and made the Philadelphia Liberties under-10 and under-8 teams, respectively. The Liberties are an all-girls hockey club based out of the Flyers Training Center.
The pair finished out the Learn to Play program, and now the dynamic duo is tearing it up on the ice in No. 1 (Tessa) and No. 99 (Eleanor) jerseys. Tessa is enjoying scoring goals — she also plays dek hockey and proudly recalled the time she scored four during a game in Medford. — and Eleanor, a speedy player who likes to play defense and already has a game under her belt, is excited to work on her crossovers.
“It’s great,” Tippett said about his involvement. “Obviously we’re super busy, and anytime you get the chance to, not only with this, but we’ve gone to children’s hospitals, and around the holidays we’ll do extra stuff. It’s an easy ask, and it’s an easy answer to say yes, to get out in the community and meet people.
“Obviously, [with] what we do, it’s nice to get a break and get away from the game a little bit and give back. The fans do so much for us, and the least we can do is be out in the community, showing how much we appreciate them.”
Owen Tippett’s wife, Taylor, played hockey growing up and is also heavily involved in the Learn to Play program.Courtesy of Flyers
The Atlantic 10 track and field outdoor championships have long represented the end of the competitive season for many college athletes.
But for St. Joseph’s, the 2026 A-10 championships in Fairfax, Va., weren’t just the end of another season, it was the end of a chapter.
Senior Lily Ferguson’s 5.40-meter finish in the women’s long jump final on May 2 at George Mason Stadium was the final jump for St. Joe’s.
The jumps program, which was part of the St. Joe’s track and field team, started its phase-out process in the 2023-24 season, when athletes were notified of the eventual end of the program, three former Hawks told The Inquirer. Following the 2025-26 season, after the remaining three jumpers in the program, Ferguson, Logan Henry, and Cameron Campbell-Miller graduated in May, the program was terminated, the trio said.
“When it came to jumps, you can clearly see it was almost like we were more freelance than being a part of the team,” Campbell-Miller said.
With two full seasons ahead of him after learning this news, Campbell-Miller said he became “a lot more school-oriented,” and focused on taking advantage of the time he had left to get involved in other programs and opportunities. By the time he finished his jumping career, Campbell-Miller said he felt more detached from the team than ever before.
The group of jumpers remained close, though its size dwindled each year. By the end of their senior year, Campbell-Miller said the three remaining jumpers “were [their] own little family.” The rest of the team, he said, remained supportive, but ultimately still separate.
In the 2022-23 season, Yvonne Harrison and Brian Hirshblond were coaches for sprints, jumps, and hurdles. Following that season, no coach was listed as a jumps specialist.
“The head coach, if you talk to even the [coaches] below him, they didn’t jump when they were in high school. They didn’t really work with jumps beforehand,” Campbell-Miller said. “You could tell they would try. They’re trying their best with everything that they’re doing, and I give them kudos for that.”
St. Joe’s head coach Mike Glavin specializes in cross country and distance events, while assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Chris Tarello coaches the middle distance group. Assistant coach David Reick focuses on sprints and hurdles.
Luke Noss, a fellow senior who competed in long sprints and hurdles, saw the events unfold from a different perspective but also noticed the coaching being spread thin.
“When you have 30 to 35 sprinters and you only have three jumpers, it’s a little hard to give the jumpers what they need, just based on numbers,” Noss said. “As a coach, you’re going to give the people that’s your biggest group of people the biggest chance of scoring the most time, so it was definitely, I guess, in one word, just an afterthought for the jumpers these past few years.”
Joel Maxcy, a sports business professor at Drexel said, in his broad understanding, there were a lot of factors that could have led to the decision.
Track and field isn’t a revenue sport or one that garners widespread attention like basketball. The House v. NCAA settlement, which came after the decision but imposed roster limits of 45 athletes for men and 45 athletes for women implemented in the 2025—26 academic year, likely only reaffirmed it.
“Probably, they looked at the costs and benefits of this and said, ‘The cost of either hiring a new coach or now complying with the house rules don’t make jumps worth it to us anymore. The cost of keeping jumpers is not worth the benefit of a somewhat more competitive and better track and field team,’” Maxcy said.
Ashwin Puri, the new athletic director at St. Joe’s, shared a similar sentiment about pouring resources into more competitive areas of the program in his written statement to The Inquirer about why the school decided to cut the program.
“Saint Joseph’s is committed to aligning its resources to best serve its mission,” Puri said. “In the current landscape of collegiate athletics, like many institutions across the country, that means focusing on areas of strength that allow our programs to flourish and set themselves apart. Saint Joseph’s track and field programs will continue to compete at the highest level and prepare student-athletes for bright futures both on and off the track.”
Ashwin Puri is the new AD at St. Joe’s.Steven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Despite the program’s deterioration over the seasons, Campbell-Miller said that when he started at St. Joe’s in 2022, the jumps program was a big contributor to the team’s success at meets.
At that time, Patrick Fehm, who finished his career as one of the program’s best jumpers, was in his junior year. Fehm medaled eight times for St. Joe’s, including gold medals in the high jump at the 2023 A-10 indoor championships, at the 2022 IC4A outdoor championships, and at the 2024 IC4A indoor championships. He also won one silver medal and four bronzes.
Fehm was in his senior year when the future of the program was shared with the athletes. With one year of eligibility left because of COVID-19, that decision meant exploring other options for him. He completed his final year of eligibility at Tennessee.
Even though the decision altered his plans, Fehm said he felt worse for the jumpers coming up behind him in the program but understood what went into it as a nonrevenue sport at a mid-major school.
“To an extent, I can respect a little bit more, especially going forward, you want to recruit athletes and you want student athletes to be a part of the program or the thing they’re doing or specializing in, you want there to be consistency with the resources you’re getting,” Fehm said.
Patrick Fehm won eight medals during his time at St. Joe’s.SJU Athletics
However, Noss said the irony of the situation is that the only national champion at St. Joe’s came from the jumps program.
In 1991, Donna Crumety was the NCAA triple jump champion and remains the only athlete from the school to win a national title.
“We invest so much in our schools, in basketball, and field hockey, and etc., lacrosse,” Noss said. “Those are the big sports, but our only national champion is a triple jumper, and that program’s gone.”
Going forward, it’s unclear to the former athletes how this will affect the program’s ability to stay competitive. Without ever having throws and now cutting jumps, Noss said it’s not feasible to compete with bigger schools such as Rhode Island, Virginia Commonwealth, or George Mason that have an entire team.
Campbell-Miller said it could help with recruiting for sprints and distance runners with the focus on these athletes, but he ultimately thinks the lack of jumps and a full team can be harmful to the program.
“We have a more competitive track team than we’ve had in a very long time, both distance and sprints and hurdles,” Campbell-Miller said. “I feel like scoring may go up on the track, but without the jump scoring or that possibility points, I feel like where we’re going to be as a team will feel pretty stagnant, and we’re not going to be going, at least on the A-10 level, to where we want to be, so I think that hurts. Obviously, it was terrible for everyone who was here.”
About two to three times a week, Ryan Richter will sit in front of reporters in the bowels of Subaru Park. His hair will be neatly combed to the side, his hands folded in front of him, with his shirt buttoned to the very top.
The Union’s interim head coach will calmly discuss the game ahead, or the game just played, answering questions as anyone else in his position would. But every now and then, those watching from his hometown of Southampton, Bucks County, have to laugh.
In some ways, this version of Richter is just like he was as a kid: driven, focused, thoroughly prepared. But aesthetically, it is completely different. Richter, a three-sport athlete at William Tennent High School, was captivated by NBA culture growing up, particularly Allen Iverson.
He’d wear a headband during basketball games. He pierced both ears. He’d drive around Bucks County in a white Kia, with an enlarged Jumpman logo on its hood, and Sixers jerseys covering its seats.
À la Shaquille O’Neal, Richter would give himself nicknames: “Shaq Daddy,” “Shaq-Daddy-Licious,” “Ric-Daddy-Docious.” Those monikers are long gone, but that side of Richter isn’t.
Ryan Richter was a three-sport athlete at William Tennent High School, who parlayed his talents into a pro soccer career and now an interim role as the Union’s head coach. Courtesy / William Tennent H.S.
“It’s like, I’m still listening to Get Rich or Die Tryin’ when I’m driving into work,” Richter said. “You know?”
His high school basketball coach, Glenn Dolton, called this a “paradox.” Beneath the panache was a teenager who was confident, but not cocky. Hard-working, but also light-hearted, with a self-deprecating sense of humor.
Treating pro soccer as a profession wasn’t a main goal. Richter was always immersed in the sport — his dad played at The College of New Jersey, back when it was known as Trenton State, and his grandfather played for a team in Warminster — but he also played basketball and football through high school.
The Sixers were Richter’s favorite team, and Iverson his favorite player. Richter was in the building for Game 5 of the 2001 Eastern Conference semifinals, when The Answer dropped 52 points, and returned for the Eastern Conference finals against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Before he was the Union’s interim head coach, Ryan Richter was the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year at La Salle University.Courtesy / La Salle Athletics
A La Salle graduate, Richter was drafted by his hometown MLS team in 2011, began coaching for them in 2018, and has gradually worked his way up since.
Now, the 37-year-old is at the helm, leading the Union from the worst record in the league to playoff contention. At the time of this report, the club hasn’t lost a league game under his watch. Players say the energy in the locker room has changed for the better.
The soccer world might be surprised. But Southampton isn’t.
“He knows what it takes to get the job done, and he does not like to lose,” his childhood best friend, Mike Pio Jr., said. “And, I mean, that’s pretty evident with how they’ve been doing so far.”
Some people hate losing more than they love winning. Richter says he’s the opposite, and has been that way since he was a child.
He was competitive not just on the field, but in everyday life. If he was playing a game of Connect Four, he’d want to crush the opposition. He and his friends would hang out at the local youth center to jump into hotly contested pickup hoops games.
Once, the teenagers joined an adult bowling league. They were the youngest members by about 20 years, but that didn’t quash Richter’s spirit.
“The competitiveness was also there,” Pio said. “I think everybody else in that league was probably old enough to be our fathers.”
A formative moment came in his freshman year of high school. Richter tried out for the junior varsity basketball and soccer squads, and failed to make either team. He got to work, and by sophomore year, made varsity in both sports.
Ryan Richter (center) didn’t make the varsity team his freshman year at William Tennent. The next season, he made varsity in both soccer and basketball. Courtesy / William Tennent H.S.
But he never forgot the feeling of being passed over — or the names of the students who passed him.
“He still reminds me of that occasionally,” Dolton said, “that I should have brought him up. Which, looking back on it, I’m like, ‘Yeah, you may have a good point there.’”
Coaches loved Richter, because he’d push his teammates as hard as he’d push himself. If a fellow athlete wasn’t hustling enough, he’d pull him aside or ask a higher-up to step in.
Pio’s father, Mike Pio Sr., experienced this firsthand when he worked as an assistant soccer coach at Tennent.
Video: Union interim manager Ryan Richter not satisfied with landing in a playoff spot
“He expected his teammates to basically bleed the way he bled,” Pio Sr. said. “Even during practice, he would call people out.”
Teenagers didn’t always love being challenged, but Richter had an affability which allowed him to break through. He was athletically gifted on the field, but didn’t take himself too seriously or act like he was better than anyone else.
The hood-sized ode to Michael Jordan was evidence of this. So was a photo that Richter took with Pio Jr. when they were in high school. The two friends were at the Willow Grove Park Mall, in an Abercrombie and Fitch dressing room.
Before he was the Union’s interim manager, Ryan Richter (right) was a three-sport athlete at William Tennent High School, with an affinity for NBA culture and swag.Courtesy / Mike Pio
Images of models adorned the walls, and Richter and Pio Jr. wondered how easy that work must be.
So, they tried it themselves, posing for a photograph that still hangs beneath a magnet on Pio Sr.’s refrigerator door.
“It was like they were posing for GQ magazine,” Pio Sr. said. “Hilarious.”
The teenager would set up silly challenges, like singing the national anthem before a basketball game, despite the fact that he was not musically inclined. And physical challenges, like improving his vertical so he could dunk in a game.
Richter stood at 6-foot, but had smaller hands, which made it difficult to palm the ball. But he was determined. In a game against Abington, he finally got the moment he’d been waiting for.
“He threw one down, and it was like the place exploded,” Dolton recalled. “It was like the greatest thing that ever happened. It was really funny.”
Union interim manager Ryan Richter starred on William Tennent’s varsity basketball team.Courtesy / William Tennent H.S.
Richter was recruited by several nearby soccer programs: Temple, Delaware, and Iona. But he ultimately chose La Salle because of its coaching staff.
Head coach Pat Farrell’s rules were rigorous, but aligned with Richter’s already sky-high expectations. He noted that Farrell pushed him, personally too.
“It was just the things that he emphasized,” Richter said. “About taking responsibility, about being a man and taking care of your school stuff, and staying out of trouble.
“He’s not a guy of so many words, but he was just a father figure for everybody.”
Before he was the Union’s interim head coach, Ryan Richter was the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year at La Salle University.Courtesy / La Salle Athletics
Richter upped his work ethic to a new level in college. The striker showed up to practice an hour-and-a-half or two hours early. He’d train with the Ocean City Nor’easters, a USL League Two team, to stay in shape during the offseason.
When he returned in the fall, he’d be ready for more. And by 2011, he was en route to a professional career.
“He would say, ‘Do you want to do some extra [shooting], or do you want to do some skill work,’ like ball work and things like that,” Farrell said. “And we could never say no.”
Richter’s playing career with the Union was brief — only making an appearance in two international friendlies and 10 reserve league matches — but his time as a coach there has spanned nearly nine years.
After playing professionally for seven years, Richter was hired by the Union in 2018 to work at their academy, serving in various development roles.
In 2022, he was promoted to assistant coach of the Union, under then-head coach Jim Curtin, and in 2025, was named head coach of the Philadelphia Union II.
Ryan Richter has held several roles within the Union, including former head coach of the club’s developmental team, Union II. Jonathan Tannenwald / Staff
When Bradley Carnell was fired in late May, after a league-worst record of 1-10-4, and replaced with Richter, many current players were already familiar with him.
The Southampton native had coached Cavan Sullivan since he was 8. Outside back Frankie Westfield had never played for Richter, but knew him through regular games of teqball and basketball with his teammates at the Academy.
Centerback Neil Pierre started his season on a six-month loan to a team in Denmark. When he returned in July, he wasn’t sure what he’d find.
He’d heard from teammates that the locker room was “losing its head.” But with Richter already having an established relationship with multiple players, it helped make Pierre’s immersion back into the squad smooth.
“We were going through a tough time,” Pierre said. “I guess it wouldn’t be the same upbeat attitude. People wouldn’t be as into the culture. Kind of lost that ‘Philly’ mindset. And I think when [Richter] came back, he just brought it back.”
Ryan Richter (left) greets Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan during a recent match.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Richter’s Bucks County tendencies are never too far. He has been known to challenge other coaches on the basketball court. He is still a massive Sixers fan, and gleefully shared the news of LeBron James coming to Philadelphia after a Union practice in July.
But perhaps the biggest way his upbringing shines through is in his approach to younger players. Sullivan is only 16, but a teenage phenom who is bound for Manchester City when he turns 18.
In an Aug. 19 match between the Union and Inter Miami, Sullivan defended his brother, Quinn, after defender Ian Fray stepped over him and pushed his head down.
Cavan ran over, and got in a scuffle that instantly became the story of the game. He received a red card (later rescinded).
Got to protect your own brother.
Cavan Sullivan and Yannick Bright were given red cards.
Cavan Sullivan and Richter talked about the incident two days later. The head coach told him that he did nothing wrong, but to remember that he draws scrutiny like nobody else on the roster.
And that if he does act up, it’ll become international news.
“I always try to keep in mind of where some of the younger guys are at, and remember what I was like,” Richter said. “When I was 16, I was driving around with a Jordan logo on my car, and who knows what kind of trouble I was getting in.
“That’s why I think Cavan is such an amazing kid; because of the pressure that he has to deal with, and the spotlight that’s always on him. Could you deal with that when you were 16?”
Richter, seen here with Union teen midfielder Cavan Sullivan, says he tries to remember himself at a young age in order to keep his players, many of whom are still in their teens, focused on the team’s mission.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Learning soccer on the fly
Richter’s friends did not grow up diehard soccer fans. Like most Philadelphians, they are all-in on the Eagles and the Phillies; maybe some basketball and hockey, too.
His new role has served as a teaching moment for everyone. Last month, a group of Southampton natives went to Subaru Park for a game against Atlanta United. They were stunned by what they saw: Union goals in 96th and 97th minute, en route to a 3-2 comeback win.
“They’re like, ‘Soccer is amazing!’” Richter said. “It’s like, ‘This is a one-in-a-thousand game that you guys saw tonight.’”
Nevertheless, the head coach’s buddies have since tuned into to every press conference and every match, home or away. They’ve been filling his group chat with lots of “DOOP” and other words of encouragement.
Ryan Richter says his approach is solely game by game and isn’t taking too much stock in the success the Union have had since he took over as interim manager. Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
They’re also provided some friendly, albeit superstitious, advice.
“One of our buddies just texted this morning,” Pio Jr. said “He goes, ‘I changed my mind. I don’t think they should remove the interim tag, because you’re doing way too good with it.’”
Richter’s friends have ninemore games to learn; maybe more, if the Union make the playoffs. But regardless of how this season ends, his community will continue to be proud of him.
A local kid, who once patrolled Bucks County, is now patrolling the sidelines of Subaru Park — and doing a good job, at that. The headband and earrings may be gone, and so is the White Kia.
But somewhere, beneath his outward professionalism, is that same Iverson-loving teenager; better known not as Ryan Richter, but as a “licious” or a “docious.”
After Sunday’s season-opening win over the Washington Commanders, Fox sideline reporter Erin Andrews used an analogy in her postgame interview with Jalen Hurts to describe the Eagles’ ever-changing offense each year.
Given the regular turnover at offensive coordinator, Hurts is required to learn how to drive a “different car” every year, she said.
But Hurts has a different perspective on the situation.
Hurts has been the constant — the car, so to speak — for the last six seasons. It wasn’t Sean Mannion’s new-look offense that put the Eagles over the edge against the Commanders — rather, Hurts’ traits that have been evident throughout his tenure as the starter took center stage. His ability to make something out of nothing with his legs and push the ball downfield came in clutch when the Eagles needed momentum-shifting plays.
But is a reliance on the quarterback’s ability to take over a game a sustainable way to win every week?
Here’s what we know (and what we don’t) about the Eagles heading into Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans:
The Eagles offensive line will be under the microscope in Nashville. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Running on empty
Since his arrival in Philadelphia, Mannion has preached the importance of the marriage between the run and the pass, much like other disciples of the West Coast offense.
It takes two to make any relationship work, and on Sunday, the run game struggled to gain ground.
Saquon Barkley didn’t have much room to operate, an issue that plagued the rushing unit last season, too. According to Next Gen Stats, Barkley was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on seven of his 15 carries. He rushed for a total of 83 yards, 78 of which came after contact (thus, just 5 before contact). He also forced five missed tackles.
A running back’s ability to pick up yards before contact isn’t on the offensive line alone, but its struggles in the season opener were well-documented.
Cam Jurgens was flagged twice for holding on Barkley carries. Landon Dickerson was often deficient both as a run and pass blocker, and he was placed on the injured reserve list Monday. Five of Barkley’s 15 carries went for negative yardage (including one penalty), which in part prevented the Eagles offense from sustaining a rhythm throughout the entire game.
Video: Immediate takeaways from the Eagles’ offense under Sean Mannion
There were some highlights. Barkley had an explosive 42-yard run on an inside zone call, highlighted by Jurgens redirecting Commanders linebacker Leo Chenal into cornerback Amik Robertson at the line of scrimmage to spring the running back.
They got the outside zone game going at times, too. Barkley ran for 6 yards on an outside zone call late in the first quarter, but he appeared to leave meat on the bone. Instead of hitting the edge, he initially attempted to cut upfield inside of DeVonta Smith, who was blocking on the perimeter.
It seemed like Barkley was trying to avoid Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves, who shed a block from Dontayvion Wicks inside of Smith. But as Barkley bounced outside, he tripped over Smith’s leg.
The Eagles will need more from the run game going forward, especially if they want to take some of the pressure off Hurts. Was Week 1 a sign of the struggles to come on the ground, or can the group rebound?
Robert Saleh’s debut in Tennessee was kind of a mess. George Walker IV
Titan down
Fortunately for the Eagles, the Titans are up next on their schedule.
It’s a new era in Tennessee under head coach Robert Saleh, but the Titans — who went 3-14 last season — suffered the same lousy results in their Week 1 outing. The team fell 23-10 to the New York Jets, although it was 23-3 until the final three minutes of the game.
The Titans defense is headlined by defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who was the highest paid at his position for about a month until Jalen Carter signed his extension before the start of training camp.
Pro Football Focus credited Simmons with a team-high three pressures, but the entire defensive front was essentially neutralized by the Jets offensive line. Jets quarterback Geno Smith was only hit once, and he didn’t take a sack. Smith had 3.04 seconds to throw, according to Next Gen Stats, which ranked seventh most among starting quarterbacks in Week 1 before Monday night’s game.
The group wasn’t any better in run defense. They conceded 152 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries, with Jets running back Breece Hall leading the way with 102 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts.
The Eagles should expect the Titans to adjust in Week 2. But can they exploit some of their weaknesses, particularly on the ground?
Cam Ward (1) extended some plays against the Jets, but to little avail. George Walker IV
Weary for Ward
For as lackluster as the Titans defense was in their season debut, the offense was even worse.
Cam Ward, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick out of Miami, was 19-for-32 for 140 yards and a touchdown (80.2 quarterback rating). Take out the garbage-time scoring drive, though, and Ward went 13-for-24 for 85 yards.
He was under siege often. According to PFF, Ward saw pressure on 16 of his 39 dropbacks (41%), completing just 5 of 10 passing attempts for 33 yards on those plays. Titans rookie right guard Fernando Carmona was particularly susceptible to allowing pressure, conceding two hurries and one hit in his regular-season debut.
The Eagles generated pressure on Jayden Daniels on Sunday, as he was pressured on 16 of 38 of his dropbacks (42.1%). In those circumstances, he completed just two of his passes on 12 attempts for 17 yards. But just like last season, the Eagles defense struggled to finish, with Jihaad Campbell notching the lone sack of the afternoon.
Given the Titans’ struggles up front, the Eagles defense could fare better in the sack column in Week 2.
Additionally, Ward is no Daniels, but he does have an ability to extend plays and scramble. He had 21 scramble yards on four attempts against the Jets. The Eagles gave up 29 scramble yards to Daniels, including a 13-yarder late in the third quarter that helped set up Stefon Diggs’ touchdown in the fourth.
Ryan Richter, known to many as the Union’s interim manager, was once a three-sport athlete at William Tennant High School.
The 37-year-old Bucks County native grew up captivated by NBA culture, particularly Allen Iverson. He’d wear a headband during basketball games. He pierced both ears and gave himself nicknames, like “Shaq Daddy.”
While the moniker is long gone, that side of Richter isn’t.
The La Salle graduate was drafted by his hometown MLS team in 2011, began coaching for them in 2018, and has gradually worked his way up.
Now, he’s leading the Union from the worst record in the league to playoff contention. The soccer world might be surprised by Richter’s accomplishments. But those from his hometown are not.
Jalen Hurts threw three touchdown passes to start a 2026 season where his every move will be evaluated (as usual).David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Jalen Hurts made several big-time throws against Washington, and at times looked like the explosive runner that made him one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the NFL.
He also addressed some doubts about how he would adjust to another change in coordinator and scheme. But the game plan didn’t quite represent the dramatic shift that was anticipated. Instead, it was a blending of the old and new.
There was still much more of the old bad than the good in Week 1, writes Jeff McLane. That meant too many three-and-outs and too much of Hurts under pressure.
Speaking of offensive line struggles, Hurts was sacked three times on Sunday. Now, the Eagles are placing Landon Dickerson on injured reserve.
Cooper DeJean also didn’t look great. He allowed six catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. But this was his first game in his new role. So the second-year defensive back has no plans to overreact. However, he knows his performance “wasn’t good enough.”
Read more of our Eagles coverage and what Nick Sirianni said in his Monday press conference here.
What we’re …
🤔 Wondering: What the national media is saying about the Eagles after they escaped with a Week 1 win.
🏈 Learning: The Ivy League is adding a bye week and starting the college football season earlier in 2027.
🔎Analyzing: Villanova men’s basketball complete 2026-27 schedule after the Big East games were released.
📖 Reading: St. Joe’s track and field terminated its jumps program. The phase-out process started in 2023-24.
Andrew Painter’s bullpen experience is limited, but that’s a route the team could choose to go for the rookie in the postseason.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Andrew Painter has done some struggling, failing, learning, and improving in his rookie season. But when the regular season ends after the next 12 games, Painter could see his role change.
In a best-of-three wild-card series, the Phillies would only need a maximum of three starters. In the best-of-five National League Division Series, clubs usually have a four-man rotation.
Either way, the Phillies will have some decisions to make about how they will set up their starting pitching. Is it possible that the rookie could be an option for the postseason bullpen?
Winger Owen Tippett has become the Flyers’ ambassador for the team’s Learn to Play Program.Courtesy of the Flyers
Owen Tippett is entering his seventh season in the NHL. The 27-year-old will sometimes recall his days skating as a kid in Toronto, which is why he’s entering his third straight season as an ambassador for the Flyers Learn to Play Rookie Program.
And curious how the Flyers’ Rookie Series went? Check out Jackie Spiegel’s takeaways from Game 1 and 2 this past weekend.
Cavan Sullivan (right) celebrates after scoring one of his two goals in the Union’s 5-0 win on Sunday against San Diego.Philadelphia Union
On Wednesday, U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to announce his 26-man roster for a series of four upcoming friendlies.
There’s a good chance that Cavan Sullivan will earn his first call-up to the senior squad. On Sunday night, the 16-year-old recorded his first two-goal game in a 5-0 rout of San Diego. He now has five goals and six assists in his last seven MLS games.
The Union are also unbeaten in their last 10 matchups. The group can tie the franchise’s longest unbeaten streak with a win or draw against Sporting Kansas City this Saturday.
How much will Jalen Hurts miss A.J. Brown, who was traded to New England in the offseason? If Sunday is an indicator, maybe not as much as expected.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Jalen Hurts, after a poor 2025 season, made a strong opening statement Sunday afternoon. If he strings together a dozen or so games like this in Sean Mannion’s system this year, expect the 28-year-old to sign an extension to be the Eagles’ quarterback for the next seven or eight seasons, writes columnist Marcus Hayes.
🧠 Trivia time
When was the last time the Eagles lost in a season opener? Bonus points if you can guess which team it was against.
A) 2022
B) 2020
C) 2019
D) 2017
What you’re saying about the Eagles’ opener
We asked: What did you think of the Eagles’ win over the Commanders? Among your responses:
At this point, it is difficult to tell who these Eagles are, especially on the offensive side of the ball. However, the play of the “O” line was concerning and the “D” line was underwhelming in getting to the QB. Nonetheless, a Week 1 divisional win is much better than a Week 1 Divisional loss. Now on to Tennessee. — Jim V.
The days of the Commanders being almost a guaranteed win are long gone. Daniels and his team took the Eagles almost to the very last second. Zach Baun was outstanding and along with Hurts definitely the players of the game. O-line needs work, but thank goodness Dallas Goedert is still there and came through in a big way, Cooper looked somewhat lost out there, but Baun covered up the mistakes. Kept us fans very nervous throughout, but an excellent win. — Everett S.
Actually Washington lost the game rather than the Eagles winning the game on that stupid 15 yard penalty after a touchdown celebration. Our center still can’t block. Time for Kelsey to come out of retirement. A win is still a win and we should have 13-14 this year. The Giants really looked good! — Ronald R.
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert congratulates receiver Dontayvion Wicks after a second quarter touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
When you get right down to it, the main reason the Eagles won at home over a poor Washington team was a blocked extra point. The line play on both sides of the ball was mediocre at best. I don’t think Eagles fans should be happy with this game in spite of the win. — Tom E.
When you beat the lowly Commanders by two points at home, you have nothing to be proud of. Sean Mannion was supposed to have a new offensive scheme. He didn’t. Saquon was going to run thru the line like 2024. He didn’t. Hurts was going to spend much of the time under center. He didn’t. None of the starters played a single down in pre-season. It showed. They were all exhausted in the second half. Thank goodness for Goedert, Baun, and Mann. But it takes a village…. — Michael H.
It’s wasn’t pretty and I was holding my breath in the 4th quarter! There are obviously areas that still need work, but hey, a win is a win. Congrats to team to begin with a win. The Eagles looked better in the first half; perhaps the excessive time on the field and humidity really took its toll in the second half. Kudos to Godert, Baun, Hurts, and several others for giving us moments to cheer about. It was a good weekend for Philly sports fans. — Karen Laughlin
Solid performance except for the O-line. Dickerson needs help on every play. Jalen was very good and showed he could still run if he has to. A little disappointed with DeJean, but I think he’ll come around. Overall, a good win and a Dallas lost makes for a great first week of the NFL.— Tom G.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Alex Coffey, Jeff Neiburg, Jeff McLane, Marcus Hayes, David Murphy, Kerith Gabriel, Ryan Novozinsky, Jackie Spiegel, Lochlahn March, Mia Messina, Conor Smith, Finn Courtney, and Ariel Simpson.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
As always, thanks for reading and have a wonderful Tuesday. That’s it for me this week. Maria will be back in your inbox tomorrow. — Bella
The leadership meeting happened at midafternoon on a Tuesday at Alliance for Progress Charter School. It was a small huddle to discuss how the new school year was going.
Unexpectedly, CEO Stacey Scott burst into the Aug. 25 meeting held inside themain office, disrupting the discussion.
“You b—!” Scott said to the principal, Eric Langston, according to multiple people with direct knowledge of the meeting. She then spoke to the others in the room. “You can’t trust this snake! Motherf—!”
Scott then walked out of the room, shouting, “F— this school,” and left.
Theextraordinary outburst, insiders say, shows Alliance for Progress, whose charter is up for renewal this year, is a school in turmoil.
The Inquirer interviewed multiple people directly involved with the school, all of whom declined to be publicly identified because they fear reprisal.
The North Philadelphia charter has churned through staff. Paraprofessionals — workers without college degrees or educational licenses — are providing instruction, those inside the school say. Students who never attended a day of school last year remained on Alliance’s rolls for the entire year, meaning the charter received payment for children it did not educate.
Scott remains CEO, but is no longer working inside the building, according to the sources.
Alliance, a K-8 school on Cecil B. Moore Avenue, had 616 students on roll last year.
Both Scott and Larry Griffin, the president of the school’s board of directors, were asked to comment on the allegations. Griffin sent The Inquirer a statement. Scott did not respond.
“Alliance For Progress Charter School continues our important work of educating our economically disadvantaged student populations,” Griffin wrote. “Respecting the privacy of all our AFPCS employees, we decline to comment on personnel matter.”
Langston declined to comment.
The Philadelphia School District’s charter schools office declined to comment. Officials from the charter office are expected to visit Alliance in late October to begin the enhanced review process that accompanies charter renewal.
The school’s board of directors is scheduled to meet Tuesday night.
Sounding an alarm
Six weeks after joining Alliance as principal in July, Langston, who has spent time as a leader in the Mastery Charter system and at Northwood Academy, sent a confidential email outlining concerns he had about the school to the Alliance board of directors.
The concerns, he said, according to the message obtained by The Inquirer, “have reached a level that gives me significant pause regarding leadership practices, organizational culture, transparency, and the long-term health of Alliance.”
Raheem Harvey, who left Alliance last year, said he flagged to school and board officials violations of state and local bidding requirements, contracts issued without board approval, a student enrollment problem, skipped payroll taxes, and more.
Scott told The Inquirer in December that Alliance officials “categorically deny all the allegations asserted by this disgruntled former employee.” That suit is still pending.
Langston, in his email,laid out several issues raised by employees around ”Scott’s leadership and decision-making, including questions about whether decisions are consistently being made in the best interest of the school.” Alliance, he added, does not have “the level of psychological and professional safety necessary for adults to openly communicate, learn, disagree, grow and lead.”
Different organizational structures are needed at the school, Langston said in the email. He proposed becoming chief schools officer — a promotion — which he said would result in “creating clearer lines of accountability and appropriately limit the extent to which Ms. Scott is involved in the daily instructional and operational decision-making of the school.”
Langston also raised alarm over Scott instructing human resources to withhold the bonus an employee earned because the employee was taking family medical leave to care for an ill relative. Scott,he said, wanted to make sure the employee returned to Alliance after the leave.
“I am deeply concerned that conditioning compensation already earned or otherwise due upon an employee’s return from protected leave may create significant legal, ethical and organizational exposure for Alliance,” Langston wrote.
Langston also suggested Scott was misrepresenting staff vacancies and counting classes covered by substitutes as filled.
“Our reporting should distinguish between FTE-filled positions, substitute-covered vacancies, and completely uncovered vacancies,” Langston wrote. “Anything less creates an inaccurate picture of our staffing reality. I believe the board deserves complete and transparent information upon which to make governance decisions.”
‘There are grave concerns’
Four days after Langston sent the email to the board, Scott burst into his meeting shouting profanities, according to those with direct knowledge.
Langston immediately notified the board of Scott’s conduct and asked for a meeting, which happened the next day.
Some board members apologized for Scott’s behavior, but Griffin,the board president, neither offered an apology nor discussed the issues Langston raised, according to multiple insiders.
Soon after the meeting, the board’s lawyer instructed Langston and the board to have no contact with each other. Alliance, at its lawyer’s instruction, has hired an outside consultant to investigate the situation.
Langston remains on site at Alliance for Progress; Scott is working remotely, sending emails and issuing directives.
Employees say Scott “has created a scope at the school where nothing can go on without her,” one employee said.
The school’s atmosphere is “such a toxic working environment, not a healthy space. The kids are losing, the families are losing,” the employee said.
“There are grave concerns,” the employee said. “We service families that come from challenging backgrounds, and we cannot assume that just the children have struggles. We have parents that cannot read. They do not know their children are not being serviced, their children are not being prioritized.”
The employee said while the school’s climate is decent, Alliance lacks some organizational basics, including human resources processes and a formal student discipline cycle. Some students who never attended the school remained on roll all year, the employee said — an assertion confirmed by other employees.
Some classes have been taught “for years” by unlicensed paraprofessionals, the first employee said.
“It lacks stuff that a normal school understands,” the employee said. “It’s a very low tier, low level of support. The kids are not learning.”
Just 9% of the school’s students meet state standards in reading, and 5% reached math standards. That is far below district and state achievement — in the Philadelphia School District, 33% of students were considered at grade level in reading and 25% in math; across Pennsylvania public schools, 50% of students are considered proficient in reading and 42% in math.
A second employee, who also asked for anonymity for fear of reprisal, is particularly troubled by the school’s academic issues.
“Our school is predominately Black and brown children, and they can’t read, and they’re just passed on to the next grade, and we go into these meetings, and they say, ‘These are the worst test scores I’ve ever seen.’ But what are we doing to make that different?”
The second employee also expressed alarm about students on Alliance’s books who had left the school.
“We noticed that students who’ve withdrawn were back on our roll. Students who haven’t been there for years. They literally lied on enrollment documentation,” the second employee said.
Charters are allotted funding based on the number of students enrolled.
“Something,” the second employee said, “is very wrong.”
If, in fact, as I have read, bribing individuals to vote in a particular way is illegal.
If, in fact, we are to take Donald Trump’s offer of $5,000 to every adult in America if and when the Republican Party gains control of specified governing bodies, is this not, in fact, a bribe? A bribe by the man holding the most powerful office in America, the man sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States, or are we just supposed to laugh this off as only another of Trump’s little affectations? Please do not tell me this is not a bribe; please do not tell me Trump is indemnified from prosecution.
A bribe is a bribe; a law is a law. We are on the cusp of creating a society of millions of people who will sense that the Constitution and laws supporting it are only applicable to those who do not have the means to defend themselves.
Wake up, America — we are in troubled times. Do we or do we not have laws? Or is it that what we do have is a government rife with self-serving wealthy individuals who would rather turn a blind eye?
Philip A. Tegtmeier Sr., Honey Brook
. . .
There’s never been anything subtle about President Donald Trump. Now he’s promising a $5,000 check to every adult if the Republicans retain control of the House and the Senate. Let’s not pussyfoot around about Trump’s promised bonanza to the American people. It’s an outright attempt to bribe the people and “buy” our vote. Mr. President, it “ain’t gonna work.” We will not sell our vote to the highest bidder, especially to a man who is infamous for stiffing those he owes money to. No, Donald Trump, we’ll not sell our soul that readily — and besides, while it’s true that some men’s word is as good as gold, your word is not even worth the paper it’s printed on.
Ken Derow, Swarthmore
Losing accountability
After reading Will Bunch’s informative column about Schuylkill County, Pa., and how local police departments there are joining forces with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in order to get money, I found myself focusing not only on the payments themselves, but also on the fact that any information regarding these relationships asked of these departments requires Freedom of Information Act requests with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Now that might not seem terrible until you realize reporters and newspapers are how we, the citizens, find out what’s happening in our communities, and if the police will not be clear and the commissioners are withholding information, then we are being kept in the dark. That means people who are paid with our taxes and supposedly work for us are suddenly not accountable. I ask my fellow Pennsylvanians, “Are you OK with that?” Are you OK with what is happening across this state, having no say in it — and then being told you don’t have a right to know?
Liese Sadler, Philadelphia
Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Algorithms rarely show you something that doesn’t intrigue you or make you want to pull out your wallet — there go your attention and money. Contrastingly, the analog living you do today will reward your attention instead of competing for it.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Avoid spending any time at all noticing or lingering in the sorrow of unpossessed talents while your potentiality waits for attention, praise and the hours of work it will take to make the talents you possess in abundance absolutely gleam.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ve spent enough time in your head lately, so it will be great to get a win you can feel in your body or see in the physical world, such as sore legs after a long walk, a point on the score board or a room you cleaned yourself.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’re reminded how life is always rolling along and relationships along with it, shifting in ways perhaps undetectable over the course of days and weeks, yet each little change creates a different degree of depth, distance or temperature.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re so open to the muses, not just for yourself and your own work, but for those you’re sure to inspire along the way. You’re all contributing to something that’s bigger than the sum of its parts.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Don’t be overly concerned with making everything easy for others today. Some need it, sure. But if you make yourself too useful to entitled types, you could be doing yourself a disservice, as they will never stop taking.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Believe in your powers of consecration. You can imbue a subject with a sacred energy, which exists as much in you as it does in any. What’s sacred to you is sacred, period.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Maybe someone’s loyalty runs so deep they would be there for you whether you were nice to them or not, but the fact is that you’re unfailingly kind and never take them for granted, and they show up for you again today.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There’s no need for postgame analysis because today’s cosmic gift is the clear, clean, obvious and undeniable move that all can see and comprehend immediately. This doesn’t happen every day. The whole game will progress.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You may feel the strong need to surround yourself with things that reflect who you are because it’s extremely important now that you put your whole self into what you’re creating. It needs the values, taste and sensibility that’s all you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll solve a long-standing problem with one elegant move. The answer may be so simple that you’ll laugh at the elaborate plans in the recycling bin. It’s a testament to your beautiful thought processes. Sometimes they take the scenic route.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). When is it appropriate and useful to say everything you want to say? Almost never. Even so, adults still manage to communicate with grace inside the realization that everyone is, to some degree, holding back.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 15). In your Year of the Gentle Rain, your wild heart is nourished by all that you need to thrive, and it seems to come straight from heaven in measures that are so easy to absorb. More highlights: Education is immediately applied to better relationships and lucrative work. Peace, pride and production as you build together with chosen family. Hot tickets and fun. Pisces and Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 30, 10, 12, 9 and 15.
DEAR ABBY: A good friend in our prayer circle, “Diane,” has a friend, “Suzy,” with whom several of us once socialized. We’ve all distanced ourselves because Suzy has anger and stability issues that have become increasingly frequent since her former spouse has begun dating again. Diane allows Suzy to verbalize all kinds of half-truths and act out with volatile behavior, which some of us feel is basically encouraging destructive mental health.
While some of us suspect Diane enjoys the drama of recounting Suzy’s latest issue, others believe she thinks she’s “being there” for Suzy. Since so much of each meeting is now focusing on Diane’s description of Suzy’s latest tantrum, how can we encourage her to help Suzy get the counseling she needs to get past not only her divorce, but also the results of several years of negative behavior, and focus on the real reason we are gathering?
— CARING FRIEND IN OHIO
DEAR FRIEND: Has it occurred to you that instead of praying, which is what those meetings are supposed to be about, Diane has hijacked the purpose of the meeting with gossip when she describes in detail poor Suzy’s antics? What an invasion of Suzy’s privacy! Tell Diane that if she really wants to help her friend, she should encourage her to get professional help and, if she’s reluctant to do it, to pray (as will you all!) that Suzy summons up the courage.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: I live in a neighborhood that has no sidewalks, and I vacation in a busy coastal area that also has narrow roads. My dog and I walk at least once a day along these roads, and I’ve noticed that many pedestrians don’t know which side of the road to walk down.
According to the Scouts, you should walk facing traffic. This makes sense because you can see vehicles coming toward you and can move out of the way if they do not or cannot move around you. These days, electric cars are so quiet that many walkers don’t hear them coming. Driving when you never know where walkers will be is dangerous, too. Please get the word out to walk or jog facing traffic, but not down the middle of the road. Thanks!
— DOG WALKER IN IOWA
DEAR WALKER: I have long thought that my column serves as a sort of extended “community billboard.” Your safety message is an important one. Thank you for taking the time to share it.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: We need advice on the polite thing to do when you observe something on the face of a person you are talking to. Should you: a) Motion with your finger on your face that an object has been observed; b) Tell the person discreetly; c) Say or do nothing? Does it make a difference if the person is a friend, spouse or casual acquaintance? In the case of a spouse or good friend, should the observer suggest removing it? Does the same thing apply if you notice a zipper undone, button unfastened, clothing untucked, a smudge, tear or wet spot?
— DIFFERENT OPINIONS
DEAR OPINIONS: I think the kind choice would be to inform the person of the problem discreetly, which would cause the least confusion and embarrassment. If appropriate, offer to help and see if it is welcome.
Just days before Ed Sheeran’s concert on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field, rapper Macklemore was dropped over pro-Palestine comments. Following that, several of Sheeran’s supporting acts have quit in support of Macklemore.
Aaron Rowe, Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Sheeran’s backing band, Beoga, have all announced they were dropping out of the tour, Deadline reported. Lincoln Financial Field officials didn’t immediately return a phone call for comment on what this might mean for this weekend’s concert.
Macklemore, a Grammy winner, joined the tour earlier this month and was slated to open for Sheeran on eight of his last 10 shows on the U.S. leg of the tour.
According to Rolling Stone, Macklemore was dropped because of the rapper’s pro-Palestine statements at two shows at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., earlier this month.
On Sept. 4, Macklemore performed his 2024 protest song, “Hind’s Hall,” about pro-Palestine demonstrators at Columbia University and chanted “Free Palestine” while a screen behind him showed footage from the war in Gaza.
Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran performs during “Ed Sheeran’s Play: Live from New York” presented by TikTok at Domino Square in Brooklyn on Sept. 13, 2025. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File)Andy Kropa
On Tuesday, Sheeran issued a statement on Instagram, writing that he was in contact last week with venue owners, promoters, and activists to “find a mutual resolution for all.”
While he respects Macklemore’s “strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,” Sheeran said he was unable to “build bridges” with venue owners and promoters because of the way the rapper “conveyed part of his message” during his two New Jersey shows.
Messina Touring Group, the promotional team behind the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s tour, told Rolling Stone that several venues “will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup.” That list of venues includes Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.; Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium; Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.; AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.; and the South Philadelphia venue.
Not removing Macklemore from the lineup, Messina representatives said, would “result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans.”
Lincoln Financial Field representatives did not respond to requests for comment from The Inquirer at the time of publishing.
U.S. rapper Macklemore (center) attends a demonstration in support of Palestinians calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, near the Dolby Theatre where the 96th Academy Awards Oscars ceremony were being held, on March 10, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent, File)Etienne Laurent
“What I said at MetLife I have been saying on stages around the world for almost three years,” Macklemore wrote in a social media post on Monday. “So why is it an issue now? Because now I’m sharing a stage with one of the biggest artists in the world, in some of the biggest stadiums in America.”
The rapper wrote that he was dropped from the tour after Sheeran, whom he called a friend, received a call from Robert Kraft, the owner of the NFL’s New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium.
“Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave [Sheeran] an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,” the post reads.
“I agree with Macklemore,” Kraft said in a statement obtained by USA Today Sports, in which he acknowledged his decision that Macklemore’s “participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.”
Kraft also wrote: “Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate.”
Macklemore’s shows at MetLife spurred backlash from pro-Israel groups like StopAntisemitism. In a social media post, the group accused Macklemore of spreading “anti‑Israel propaganda,” an assertion that was amplified by Bucks County-bred pop star Pink.
“A repost isn’t a statement,” Pink clarified in an Instagram post, adding that she didn’t object to Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” chants, and said that she believes that “Palestinians deserve a future that honors their humanity and their aspirations.”
“I have never asked for another artist to be silenced and I’m not asking now. I don’t need anyone fired, and I don’t need a refund,” she said. “What I need is to be able to say, as a Jewish mom, ‘that scared me, and it scared people I love,’ without being told our fear is just propaganda, and without being told I’m somehow cool with genocide because I noticed?” she wrote. She also pointed to her “decade as a UNICEF ambassador” during which she worked for “kids who didn’t choose the country or the war they were born into.”
In this Feb. 20, 2019 file photo, singer Pink poses for photographers at the Brit Awards in London. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)Vianney Le Caer
The Israeli American Council also launched a petition, demanding that Macklemore be removed from the tour.
Macklemore performs at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater during the South by Southwest Music Festival on March 17, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File)Jack Plunkett
Despite one “painful disagreement, Macklemore contends that he will remain friends with Sheeran and understands his position.“Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I’ve lost all of those things,” Macklemore wrote in his social media post.
The North American leg of the “Loop Tour” wraps up at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 7. A South American leg of the tour will follow in November and December.
An earlier version of this article misstated the day of Ed Sheeran’s concert. It is on Saturday, Sept. 19.
