TODAY Show / NBC
Declan LeBaron’s story went viral after the 8-year-old Philadelphia Eagles fan was surprised with NFC Championship tickets and was able to attend his first ever Birds game. It was part of a setup from Zachery Dereniowski who goes by ‘mdmotivator’ on social media and he had Declan and his mother meet them at a store in Philly where he presented Declan with an offer: $1,000 cash or a mystery Eagles mascot stuffie.
Declan chose the stuffed animal and then told the camera about his experience. At 8-years-old, he has been in the hospital 17 times during his battle against Systemic Juvenile Arthritis but throughout all of it the Philadelphia Eagles, his favorite team, have been a source of immense joy for him. The young Eagles fan was then surprised with NFC Championship tickets and had the greatest day ever… No now he’s going to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
After the TODAY Show caught wind of Declan LeBaron’s story they made magic happen. The TODAY crew had 8-year-old Declan LeBaron on the show this morning where they went over his story again and then presented him with an offer of: do the weather with Dylan Dreyer or another mystery bird Eagles mascot.
He obviously chose the mascot and then the band came out, cheerleaders came out, and THE Bradley Cooper surprised him with tickets to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans! This is just an incredible moment all around with the young Eagles fan being surprised with SB tickets and the best day of his life (to come) after already having the best day of his life at the NFC Championship:
Is someone cutting onions in here because it sure feels like someone is cutting onions in here? There’s something about seeing good people surprised with good things that just feels great to watch, but when it’s a kid who has faced a medical battle for his entire life and endured untold pain and the city of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the fans rally around him to make the best day of his life come true well that makes me feel ALL of the emotions.
I wasn’t quite sure who to throw some Benjamins on for Super Bowl LIX. Obviously, the Kansas City Chiefs have more experience but at this point I don’t want to live in a world where I would ever root against young Declan LeBaron, the now infamous Eagles fan who has been surprised not once but twice the best tickets around. You love to see it.