The inspiring story of Howard’s bravery had reached Brown in the days leading up to Super Bowl LIX. The young Eagles fan had suffered severe injuries while shielding his 4-year-old sister from debris when a Learjet 55 crashed near Roosevelt Mall on January 31. The accident claimed the lives of all six people aboard the medical flight and another individual on the ground. Howard, who was in a car with his family at the time, was struck in the head by metal fragments, requiring emergency brain surgery.
While Brown was fully focused on preparing for the biggest game of his career, he took a moment to reach out to Howard via social media. “Speedy recovery! You are a Hero young man!” Brown wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I’m going to come see you when I get back. Hopefully with some hardware. Playing for you on Sunday my man.”
Brown kept that promise. On February 12, he arrived at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, bringing along not just words of encouragement but also the Lombardi Trophy. Howard’s mother, Lala, took to Facebook to share the emotional moment, writing, “Thank you for being a man of your word. By great surprise on this day my son was beyond grateful to meet you. Caught us all by surprise. For Someone ‘(ANDRE)’ my son who usually talk so much, you had him smiling from ear to ear and Mute.”
The young boy’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. After undergoing intensive medical procedures, doctors had initially told Howard’s family that he might never walk again. But his resilience stunned everyone. As he gradually recovered, his first concerns weren’t about himself but about his sister’s safety. “Daddy, did I save my sister?” he had asked his father, Andre Howard Jr., upon waking up.
Then, true to his passion for football, he immediately wanted to know if he had missed Super Bowl LIX. Fortunately, he hadn’t, and he got to watch his beloved Eagles dominate the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22.
Brown’s visit was not the only highlight of the day. To make the moment even more special, the Eagles wideout called his teammate Saquon Barkley on FaceTime, allowing Howard to interact with another Super Bowl champion. The heartwarming act reinforced the sense of unity and community the Eagles stand for, proving that their impact extends far beyond the football field.
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