The Philadelphia Eagles announced this week that the NovaCare Complex practice facility in South Philly is being renamed through a multi-year expansion of their partnerships with Jefferson Health and Select Medical.

Jefferson Health will be given the naming rights to the facility—renamed the Jefferson Health Training Complex—and will continue to serve as the patch sponsor of the team’s practice jerseys.

NovaCare Rehabilitation will remain as the team’s Official Physical Therapy Partner, according to a press release.

The press release continues:

As the team’s Official Health System Partner, Jefferson Health will collaborate with the Eagles on year-round community initiatives, focusing on health education and screenings, preventive care awareness, and engagement programs aligned with many of the team’s key priorities, such as the Eagles Autism Foundation and the annual “Crucial Catch: Intercept Cancer” game.

In addition to their ongoing commitment to delivering specialized care to patients across the region, NovaCare Rehabilitation will be integrated into unique fan content shared across the team’s digital platforms, including sweepstakes, post-game locker room victory speeches, gameday push notifications, and digital advertising, as well as continued support of community initiatives, such as the Eagles Autism Foundation.

“The longstanding partnership between the Eagles and Jefferson Health has been built on a shared commitment to the region we serve,” said Don Smolenski, President, Philadelphia Eagles. “This multi-year extension marks a defining moment in our partnership – one that will now call the Jefferson Health Training Complex home to the Philadelphia Eagles. We are thrilled to celebrate this moment together and look forward to building upon our joint impact in the community through the core values we share.”

The decision has been criticized Dutch Rojas of The Rojas Report, a Substack focused on healthcare commentary.

Rojas points out in a video and an article that Jefferson Health announced in October that it would be laying off between 600 and 700 employees—including physicians, clinicians, and staff. He also notes that the 32-hospital, $15 billion health system took on a $196 million operating loss in fiscal year 2025.

Last but not least, Rojas highlights the healthcare system’s nonprofit’s status. An excerpt from the article:

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Jefferson Health is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
It pays no federal income tax.
No state income tax.
No property taxes on $6.2 billion in real estate across five counties.
It borrows money at below-market rates because bondholders receive tax-free interest.

Every dollar Jefferson does not pay in taxes is a dollar that Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Bucks County, Camden County, and Lehigh County do not receive. School districts. Fire departments. Roads.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Jefferson Health partnership is not community service. It is brand positioning funded by a tax structure designed for organizations that serve the public good.

In March 2025, the health system laid off 171 employees, many of whom report into offices located within the Philadelphia, Fort Washington, Willow Grove, Norristown, East Norriton and Abington areas, and in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. In 2023, Jefferson cut about 400 jobs.

You can watch The Rojas Report’s video commentary below:

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Photos: Philadelphia Eagles