Whether the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 on Sunday, they can at least take credit for orchestrating one of the game’s more heartwarming gestures ahead of kickoff. The Eagles, back in the NFL’s big game for the second time in three years, brought perhaps their oldest fan along with them to the Super Bowl this time.
Eloise Brown, a Philadelphia native who turned 102 years old in December, has been alive 11 years longer than the city’s NFL franchise has even existed – and a dedicated Eagles’ fan since the 1960s. She became more well-known earlier this season when she was presented with a custom-made No. 102 jersey by the team while celebrating her birthday at its NFC East-clinching win over the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 29.
It turns out the Eagles wanted her around again for ‘a little extra good luck,’ according to the team’s website, as they try to prevent a Chiefs’ three-peat and get even after their Super Bowl 57 loss to Kansas City. Team president Don Smolenski surprised Brown earlier this week with a trip to New Orleans and tickets to Super Bowl 59 as a guest of the team. Brown was also greeted by Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown and defensive lineman Brandon Graham upon arriving in town.
Videos of the encounter posted by the Eagles to social media show Eloise Brown wearing earrings with A.J. Brown jerseys dangling from them and that No. 102 jersey. A.J. Brown gave her a hug and another Eagles’ jersey ‒ a kelly green No. 11 with his autograph ‒ before posing for photos.
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‘And little ol’ me, sitting in my little apartment, I can’t believe it,’ Brown told the Philadelphia Inquirer afterwards. ‘It’s unreal, but it is real because I held some of them, hugged some of them, and gave some of them a kiss, and I know they’re going to be fine.’
Eloise Brown, according to a TODAY show profile that aired earlier this week, had been planning to watch the game with her children and grandchildren before the team stepped in and surprised her with the trip to New Orleans.
Her family says she never misses watching a game and received a game ball from Eagles coach Nick Sirianni back in December. It was just the fifth Eagles’ game she had attended in person.
Brown, perhaps most important of all for Philadelphia faithful, is also confident the Eagles will beat the Chiefs on Sunday. ‘I know they’re going to win, and that’s it,’ she said, ‘And then, I can go to sleep and be comfortable knowing my dream has come true.’
‘The opportunity to share in the experience is what makes going to the Super Bowl special,’ Smolenski said.
