It is a full circle moment for Philadelphia Eagles legend Jeremiah Trotter, 48, as he prepares to witness his son Jeremiah Trotter Jr., 22, take the field in his rookie season against the Kansas City Chiefs, sporting the same number for the same team in his first Super Bowl.
Trotter Sr. told Good Morning America, “I’m extremely proud of him, just living out his dreams and being able to go to the Super Bowl his rookie season is just exciting. Wearing the same number I wore for the same team, it’s truly a blessing to see him out there doing his thing.”
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Beyond team numbers, Trotter Jr.’s first Super Bowl game is not that different from his father’s.
Like Trotter Sr. did in Super Bowl XXXIX against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, who were then defending champions coming off back-to-back Super Bowl victories, the Eagles will once again take on a dynasty team in Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The proud father stated, “It’s gonna be a tough challenge. But they’re built for this type of football. They run the football real well, playing great defense, and they don’t turn the football over. They’re playing really good football. I like our chances.”
The former star thought back on a now-famous picture of him cradling his son on the field during post-game festivities after his 2005 NFC Championship victory.
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He joked, “I can’t pick him up [anymore] — I think I could still set him on my knee. Time flies. It’s just great to see those guys out there. It’s gonna be a fun weekend for sure.”
Trotter Sr. told TMZ Sports that his late wife, Tammi, who died of cancer in early 2023, would be proud of their son’s accomplishments.
He said, “Out of all of my kids, he looks the most like her. So every time I look at him, I see her. I know she would be extremely proud of him, of all our kids, TreMil, Josiah, and we just try to be the best people and carry on her memory the best way we can.”
He added, “To come in your first year and get a Super Bowl win, it will be amazing not just for him, for the team, for the city. I just told him just enjoy the moment, because you’re not guaranteed to get back to another Super Bowl.”
Before he was inducted into the Eagles’ Hall of Fame in 2016, the former All-Pro linebacker, also referred to as the “Axe Man,” held the record for the most career tackles by a linebacker with 371.
