Jarrad Saffren | Managing Editor
In July 2023, Howie Roseman was interviewed on stage by Michael Barkann at the Milton & Betty Katz JCC. The occasion was the Margate JCC’s annual Jackie & Hank Herskowitz Sports Night.
Most attendees who asked questions asked about football and the Eagles. But one, former Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia executive Steve Rosenberg, asked how Roseman could use his position, as general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles, to help Jews during a time of rising antisemitism.
“The best thing we can do is do our jobs really well and show people that we do our jobs really well. There’s not a lot of Jewish people in the National Football League. If I do my job really well, I think that reflects well on who I am and where I come from,” said Roseman, a member of Har Zion in Penn Valley.
In 2024, Howie Roseman did his job really well: He signed the eventual Offensive Player of the Year in Saquon Barkley and a First Team All-Pro linebacker in Zack Baun; he drafted two of the best corners in the league in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean; and he hired two coordinators, Vic Fangio on defense and Kellen Moore on offense, who helped turn the Eagles’ units around after a down year in 2023.
It all culminated in a dominant Super Bowl LIX win, 40-22, over the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 9 and a parade down Broad Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway five days later. As the parade floats rolled along and players got out to mingle with fans, Roseman stood atop his and soaked in chants of, “Howie! Howie! Howie!”
He waved and pumped his fist against his chest.
“We take pride in every Jew who accomplishes something,” said Rabbi Isaac Leizerowski of Congregation Beth Midrash Harav B’Nai Jacob, an Orthodox synagogue in Northeast Philadelphia.
“I think there should be a level of pride, that not only are they Jews but they’re both mensches. They’re good people. I’m proud that they represent our team,” said Rabbi Benjamin David of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, referring to Roseman and team owner Jeffrey Lurie, who is also Jewish.
In 2024, the Eagles went 14-3 in the regular season, earned the NFC’s No. 2 seed and stomped four opponents, three by double digits, during a dominant playoff run.
Their defense finished first in the league in yards allowed and second in the league in points allowed. Their offensive line paved the way for Barkley to become just the ninth back in history to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season.
The weakness of the team throughout the year was arguably the quarterback, Jalen Hurts, who played a complementary role to Barkley. But in the last two games, the NFC championship and the Super Bowl, the Washington Commanders and Kansas City Chiefs stacked the box, daring Hurts to throw. He threw for 246 and a score against Washington and was named Super Bowl MVP after carving up Kansas City.
Roseman’s team was one of the more dominant champions in recent memory. Eagles fans at the parade seemed to unanimously agree.
Margaret Glavin, a resident of the suburbs, and her daughter Caroline Glavin, a resident of the city, said they’d been fans for their entire lives. Both called this team the most talented Eagles squad they’ve seen.
“[The Chiefs’] tactic was to shut down Saquon, and then we’re just like, all right, we’ll go boom-boom-boom, everywhere else,” Margaret said of the Super Bowl.
“I think Jalen in particular, they doubted him,” added Caroline.
Dave Litts, an Allentown resident, said he’s been a fan of the team since 1991. He also said this was “absolutely” the most talented Eagles team he’s seen.
“They’re stacked,” he added. “I think they’re going to be good for the next couple years.”
At some point during the parade route, Roseman was accidentally hit in the head with a beer can. It left a gash on his forehead. It might have been his only blemish on the day.
Once the players, coaches and executives reached the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, Lurie spoke first, but Roseman walked up next. He spoke for 20 seconds.
“Our players, our staff, have done an unbelievable job!” he shouted to cheers. “We are two-time world champs, and we’re coming back strong.”
He walked off to more cheers from the assembled masses in front of the steps. Roseman also built the last Eagles’ Super Bowl team, in 2017. This one was the sixth-youngest in the NFL according to its average age (25.6).
