A survivor of the devastating New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans has received an extraordinary gesture of support from the Philadelphia Eagles, who presented him with a coveted Super Bowl ring.
A Night of Horror and Lasting Injuries
Ryan Quigley, a 27-year-old native of suburban Philadelphia, was celebrating the new year in the French Quarter on 1 January 2025 when a speeding pickup truck ploughed into a crowd on Bourbon Street. The attack killed 14 people, including Quigley's close friend, Martin "Tiger" Bech, and injured dozens more.
Quigley suffered a horrific list of injuries that night, which included a torn ACL, torn meniscus, broken nose, facial lacerations, and a gash on his forehead. He also required a root canal and continues to deal with rashes, bruising, and a hip flexor injury. He is scheduled for a fourth surgery on his right knee next month and undergoes hours of rehabilitation each week in his ongoing battle to recover.
An Unbreakable Bond and a Special Gesture
The Eagles organisation learned of Quigley's story and his connection to the team and the Bech family. Tiger Bech's brother, Jack, is a rookie wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders. In a powerful show of solidarity, the Eagles first invited Quigley to a playoff game and later gifted him two tickets to Super Bowl LIX, which they won against the Kansas City Chiefs on 9 February 2025.
This past Sunday, the franchise went a step further, stunning Quigley by presenting him with an official Super Bowl ring, mounted with Eagles wings on each side. He was also given a framed photo of Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts with the Lombardi Trophy.
"I'm just trying to figure out how to move forward with life," Quigley told The Associated Press, expressing gratitude even as he rebuilds himself mentally and physically from the horrors of that night.
Honouring a Friend's Dream
Quigley's support for the Eagles was intertwined with his loyalty to his lost friend. He attended the Raiders' game in Philadelphia this season to watch Jack Bech play, wearing a custom half-Eagles, half-Raiders jersey with a No. 7 patch to honour Tiger.
"That was Tiger's dream," Quigley said of seeing Jack play in the NFL. "His dream come true, especially to see him play at the Linc. It was definitely a tough and emotional day."
Quigley, who now works for an investment bank in New York, remains in touch with Eagles players and staff, drawing strength from them as the one-year anniversary of the attack approaches. He stood alongside star running back Saquon Barkley at the victory parade, where Barkley praised his resilience, calling Quigley someone who epitomises how to fight.
