Eagles' Jeffrey and Christina Lurie divorcing

Jeffrey and Christina Lurie, billionaire owners of the Philadelphia Eagles and a successful filmmaking team, announced Wednesday evening that they were ending their 20-year marriage.

In a letter to employees and others within the Eagles organization, the couple said they "would remain close friends" and "continue to work together as partners."

They emphasized that their breakup would have no impact on the ownership, business, or operations of the Eagles.

The couple did not disclose the reason for the split.

Jeffrey Lurie, 60, and Christina Lurie, 52, met in the late 1980s when she was an associate film producer on one of Jeffrey's movies, I Love You to Death. They moved to the Philadelphia area in 1994 when they bought the Eagles.

They have been living in Wynnewood on the 13-acre estate formerly owned by Walter and Leonore Annenberg.

"This was not a decision made easily or without deep consideration for each other, our children, and our extended families," the couple wrote in the statement. "But it is one we have reached mutually and with the greatest respect for each other and each of our roles in our work here at the Eagles."

They pledged to continue their work in support of the team and the nonprofit Eagles Youth Partnership, which is involved in health and education initiatives for children.

"We share the same goals for the Eagles that we have always had. We want a world championship team, of course, and we want to carry on the dedicated community service that is so much a part of this company's heart and soul," they wrote.

"We will strive to improve even further and make the Eagles a sports organization of which we are all very proud."

The Luries, who have a daughter and a son, asked that the public respect the family's privacy.

"They are parting as close friends and will continue to work together as partners with the Eagles organization and in the meaningful work of the Eagles Youth Partnership and the Lurie Family Foundation," said Anne Gordon, a family friend and former managing editor of The Inquirer.

Rob Zeiger, senior vice president for communications for the Eagles, declined further comment Wednesday evening.

The Luries were executive producers of the Oscar-winning documentary Inside Job, about the financial meltdown of 2008.

Christina Lurie has not been involved in the Eagles' football decisions, but in interviews with The Inquirer in 2010, she acknowledged weighing in on many other aspects of the team, including its logo, colors, cheerleader outfits, stadium design, charities, and website.