Super Bowl 59 will be a tough one for some as the game kicks off, and it has little to do with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans.
On New Year’s Eve, a terrorist attack in the city claimed the lives of 14 and injured over 30 more. One of those 14 victims was former Princeton football player Tiger Bech. His best friend Ryan Quigley was also severely injured with a broken fibula, a head injury, and both his ACL and meniscus were torn.
A segment aired on ESPN’s Super Bowl coverage about those involved in the terrorist attack and how Quigley is back in New Orleans. That video clip hit everyone hard, especially former Eagles center Jason Kelce.
Jason Kelce Shows Raw Emotion for Terrorist Attack Survivors
The retired Eagles center became emotional when discussing one fan who is back at the site of the attack to root for the Eagles as they attempt to win another Super Bowl.
Quigley is one of the Eagles fans mentioned in the video clip that ESPN played. He was a former teammate of Bech in college, and Kelce — who met Quigley during Super Bowl week — could not hold back his feelings on live television.
“Listen, there are some awful people in this world,” Kelce shared as he was trying to hold it together. “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.” he added. “Just happy he’s going to be here on behalf of Eagles fans everywhere. Hell yeah, Ryan.”
🙏 Emotional Jason Kelce breaks down crying while talking about Former Princeton Football player Tiger Bech, who was killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack + his best friend, Ryan Quigley, who the Eagles surprised with a Super Bowl Trip tonight https://t.co/6PInXYzmk4
Via… pic.twitter.com/vzN7Ip5bzI
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) February 9, 2025
Ryan Quigley Didn’t Want To Return to New Orleans
Quigley never had plans to return to the city that killed his friend and others. There were too many bad memories, and he was a lucky one to survive the attack.
“That was my first night in New Orleans,” Quigley said from his hospital bed. “It would definitely be my last. I don’t want to go back and explore the city.”
Quigley was a huge Eagles fan and turned Bech into loving the team as well. As the playoffs approached, the duo promised each other they’d go to the Super Bowl if the Eagles made it.
The choice was tough for Quigley as New Orleans took so much from him on New Year’s Eve.
The Eagles heard of the situation and reached out to Quigley with inspirational messages, and ultimately the club gifted him a pair of Super Bowl tickets.
Quigley is now back in town to watch the Eagles play for a title and remember his dear friend that he lost.