Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown kept his word to visit the one young Eagles fan who survived a tragic plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia. Brown brought the Vince Lombardi trophy and much encouragement to 10-year-old Andre Howard at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
AJ Brown is a man of his word. 💚🦅
Andre Howard’s mother posts photos of AJ coming to celebrate the #Eagles #SuperBowl victory with him, along with the hardware he promised and championship merch for the whole fam. 💪🦅 https://t.co/jbrDdrkfLh pic.twitter.com/gvBdipWqkF
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) February 12, 2025
A Heroic Act in the Face of Tragedy
Unfortunately, a medical transport plane crashed close to the Roosevelt Mall on January 31 killing seven people. At the time of the crash, Andre was in the car with his father and siblings. Andre, despite his youth, shielded his younger sister from the flying debris, suffering head injuries. The young Eagles fan had to have emergency brain surgery and was placed into a medically induced coma.
Despite the ordeal, Andre’s first words upon waking up showed his unwavering love for his team. “Did I miss the Super Bowl?” he asked his father. Fortunately, he hadn’t—and he was able to watch his beloved Eagles dominate the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
A.J.’s Promise Kept
While in New Orleans for the big game, A.J. Brown heard Andre’s story and when he came back to his hotel room, he tweeted Andre’s well wishes and dedicated his Super Bowl performance to the young fan. He also swore that if he returned to Philadelphia, he would make a visit to Andre in the hospital.
Brown, Andre, and family smiled, snapped photos, and posted heartfelt words on Wednesday. It was more than a football visit, but also a visit for resilience, community, and a bond between a team and its fans.
Lala Sayon Hamiel, Andre’s mother, thanked Brown on social media for his kindness and support on Instagram. “The amount of love and support you gave, being so patient and calling Saquon Barkley for him, was beyond appreciated,” she wrote. “Thank you for everything and bringing that WIN home for ‘Tre,’ the world’s greatest SUPERHERO.”
More Than Just a Game
A.J. Brown had been a dream come true for Andre. For Eagles fans, it was a reminder as to why they love their team—Eagles players show up when it matters most, both on and off the field.
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