Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce displayed heartfelt emotion when discussing the story of Ryan Quigley, an Eagles fan who survived the devastating New Orleans terrorist attack, during ESPN's Super Bowl LIX pregame coverage.
Quigley was with his friend, Tiger Bech, when a pickup truck plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street. Bech was tragically among the 14 victims, while Quigley sustained injuries. The incident understandably led Quigley to vow never to return to New Orleans. However, upon hearing his story, the Eagles offered him tickets to Super Bowl LIX, which coincidentally took place in the city.
Quigley's decision to attend was deeply rooted in a promise he made to Bech: if the Eagles ever reached the Super Bowl, he would take his friend to the game. This poignant detail resonated strongly with Kelce, who became visibly emotional on air.
After composing himself, Kelce expressed his admiration for Quigley's resilience, stating, "There's some awful people in this world...I had the fortune of meeting Ryan. And the spirit, right there – you wouldn't even know something happened if he wasn't in a wheelchair before the Rams game." He continued, his voice thick with emotion, "On one end, something terrible can happen, and on the other, something so beautiful can happen. And just happy that he's going to be here on the behalf of Eagles fans everywhere. Hell yeah, Ryan."
Quigley attended Super Bowl LIX, cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles as they faced the Kansas City Chiefs. The game, broadcast on FOX, was also available for streaming on Tubi.
