‘Extremely Proud’ Trotter Sr. Shares Excitement for Son’s Super Bowl Debut
By: Gavin Oliver February 2, 2025

Legendary Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr. is certainly one proud, excited dad — and rightfully so — as he gets set to see his son, former Clemson star linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., play in this year’s Super Bowl as a rookie with the Eagles.

“I’m just extremely proud of him, just living out his dreams, and being able to go to the Super Bowl in his rookie season is just exciting,” Trotter Sr. said during a recent interview on Good Morning America.

When Trotter Jr. takes the field with the Eagles for Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 9, he will be sporting the same digits – No. 54 – that Trotter Sr., an Eagles Hall of Famer, wore across all three of his stints with the team.

“Wearing the same number I wore for the same team, it’s just truly a blessing to see him out there doing his thing,” Trotter Sr. said of his son, who was selected by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

A third-round pick of the Eagles in 1998, Trotter Sr. – nicknamed the “Axe Man” – spent eight seasons with the Eagles, earning four Pro Bowl nods and making a Super Bowl appearance with the team in the 2004 season.

That season in Super Bowl XXXIX, the Eagles faced Tom Brady and his New England Patriots team that ultimately beat Philadelphia, 24-21, to win the franchise’s second straight Super Bowl title and third in four seasons.

This year, Trotter Jr. and the Eagles are faced with a similar task of taking on Patrick Mahomes and a dynasty in the Chiefs, who are trying to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat as Super Bowl champions.

“It’s gonna be a tough challenge. But they’re built for this type of football,” Trotter Sr. said of the current Eagles squad. “They’re running the football very well, playing great defense, and they don’t turn the football over… That’s a great recipe to win football games. If you can play that way this deep in the playoffs, you can beat anybody. So, they’re playing really good football right now. I like our chances.”

Trotter Sr. was asked about the viral photo of him holding his son during the postgame celebration on the field following the Eagles’ NFC Championship Game victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Jan. 23, 2005 – 20 years before Trotter Jr. and the Eagles celebrated their NFC Championship Game victory over the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 26, 2025.

“I can’t pick him up (anymore) — I think I could still set him on my knee,” Trotter Sr. said, laughing.

“Time flies. It’s just great to see those guys, see him out there, and it’s gonna be a fun weekend for sure.”