Eagles Fan Thought He Was Opening Grandson's School Pictures. But the Envelope Held Something Way Better (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Tatyana Simmonds TikTok.Photo:Courtesy of Tatyana Simmonds

Courtesy of Tatyana Simmonds

A family came together to fulfill their father’s lifelong dream of attending the Super Bowl to root for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles.

Recalling the moment, Matthew exclusively tells PEOPLE, “At first, I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t have my glasses on. My grandson handed me the envelope and when I opened it, I thought maybe they were his school pictures.”

“It wasn’t until I actually pulled out the papers and saw the Super Bowl 59 picture and the next page a receipt of the ticket,” he continues. “Honestly, I was blown away. It didn’t seem fathomable for my kids to do this for me.”

Tatyana explained the significance of this gift, saying, “It’s been a lifelong dream for my dad to not only see the Eagles in the Super Bowl but have them win. Back in 2018, we witnessed for the first time them win the Super Bowl, and it was just a really big time for our entire family.”

The family’s connection to the Eagles runs deep, despite their California roots. Tatyana explains, “My dad has been following the Eagles since the ‘80s. He followed Randall Cunningham, which was somebody I guess he could relate to.” She added that her father found a sense of community within the Eagles organization and fanbase, forming some of his closest friendships through this shared passion.

Matthew Simmonds and family.Courtesy of Tatyana Simmonds

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For Matthew, attending the Super Bowl always seemed like an unattainable dream. “I wanted to go in 2004 but couldn’t because of work,” he explains. “In 2022, I went to the NFC championship game, as a result I couldn’t afford Super Bowl tickets. This year, I had just planned to watch it with my family.”

But his family had other plans.

Tatyana describes her father as “a pretty selfless person” who “gave his everything” while raising her. She says, “Being able to give that back to him, it was just a beautiful moment to share because he wasn’t expecting it.”

The gesture goes beyond just attending a football game. As Matthew notes, “It means the world to me to think my children and son-in-law made such a personal sacrifice in order to make my dreams come true. When you think about raising your kids, all you imagine is taking care of them and making things happen for them.”

Tatyana, Matthew and Darius Simmonds.Courtesy of Tatyana Simmonds

He continues, “So to have this happen, it’s overwhelming to think of and I’m so thankful to them for this amazing gift I’ll never forget."

Reflecting on the experience, Tatyana emphasizes the importance of showing love to those we care about. “Life is really short and money comes and goes,” she shares. “If you have something that you can share and make an impact on someone’s life, do it.”

Stay with PEOPLEfor ongoing Super Bowl LIX coverage, and tune in to the game on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 5:30pm ET on Fox, to watch the Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

source: people.com