The Super Bowl is a time for party and celebration for millions of Americans – but has also taken on more significance for some.
Philadelphia and Kansas City will fight it out in New Orleans on Sunday in the culmination of a gruelling NFL season.
The Louisiana city, though, has been reeling from a terror attack on New Year’s Eve that left 15 people dead and a further 30 injured.
Eagles legend Jason Kelce joined the ESPN broadcast ahead of the big game and fought back tears as a tribute package was played out.
It told the story of Tiger Bech, a former Princeton University football player, who was killed on that day.
His best friend Ryan Quigley, who sustained multiple broken bones in the attack, was featured in the segment.
The Philadelphia Eagles have rallied around Quigley, a die-hard Birds fan, who had converted Bech into a fellow fanatic.
The pair made a vow to go to the Super Bowl if the Eagles win the NFC, which they later did.
Although he vowed never to return to New Orleans, Quigley also wanted to honour the memory of his friend and will be in the stadium on Sunday night.
He has been in and around the Eagles facility leading up to the Super Bowl, as well as meeting former players like Kelce.
After watching the package on the ESPN broadcast, Kelce needed a few moments to compose himself.
Co-host Mike Greenberg told him to ‘take a moment’ before Kelce delivered a poignant message.
“Listen, there’s some awful people in this world,” he said.
“And I had the fortune to meet Ryan and the spirit right there; you wouldn’t even know something happened if he wasn’t in a wheelchair before the Rams game.
“And I’m so — on one end, something terrible can happen; on the other end, something so beautiful can happen.
“Just happy he’s going to be here on behalf of Eagles fans everywhere. Hell yeah, Ryan.”
Two years ago, Kelce was playing in the Super Bowl for the Eagles against the Chiefs.
His brother, Travis, got his hands on another Super Bowl ring at Jason’s expense.
Jason will be between a rock and a hard place over who to support come game time.
The Eagles legend would love to see nothing more than to see his old teammates see the confetti fall on them after the heartbreak of two years ago.
However, he is similarly fiercely loyal to Travis as he looks to win his fourth Super Bowl.
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