Overview
- Madden Orlovsky, 14, returned to ESPN’s NFL Live on Thursday for World Autism Awareness Day, filled the set with his drawings, sang the Eagles’ fight song, and brought his father Dan to tears as he said, “Well yeah, because I love you.”
- Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith surprised Madden with a video message and the Eagles Autism Foundation sent a swag bag, which included a note welcoming him as part of their community.
- The segment featured Madden’s unscripted message to his mom and siblings, followed by a hug with his dad, and the clip quickly spread on social media with praise from figures like Pat McAfee and ESPN colleagues.
- Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said the Eagles Autism Foundation received a $15 million anonymous gift and that the first founding director of the planned Lurie Autism Institute will be named soon.
- Madden, an artist with autism and one of Dan and Tiffany Orlovsky’s triplets, has appeared on NFL Live before, and his family credits years of therapies and targeted schooling for helping him find his voice and public platform.