Philadelphia Eagles Head to Super Bowl LIX, Gaudreau Family Celebrates from Heaven
Jane Gaudreau, mother of late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, shared a heartwarming moment on social media after the Philadelphia Eagles secured a spot in Super Bowl LIX. The Gaudreau family, from South New Jersey, is deeply invested in both hockey and the Eagles.
A day before the Eagles’ 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders, the Gaudreaus, who tragically lost their lives in a car accident in 2024, were remembered with a custom Eagles jersey picture. Jane Gaudreau captioned the post, “I know two incredibly happy fans in heaven. GO BIRDS!!!!!! Going to the Super Bowl for the boys!!! One more win.”
The Gaudreaus, who were killed in an accident just days before their sister’s wedding, were remembered in a pre-game banner before the Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers game. Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were riding bikes in Oldmans Township, New Jersey when a drunk driver struck and killed them.
The Gaudreau family was present in court as the driver, Sean M. Higgins, pleaded not guilty to the charges and turned down a 35-year prison offer. Higgins was arrested for two counts of aggravated manslaughter, two counts of vehicular homicide, evidence tampering, and leaving the scene of an accident. He had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit and failed a field sobriety test.
The Gaudreau family shared a message of resilience, posting quotes on Instagram, including, “Sometimes life is hard… Some days are very rough, and sometimes you just have to cry before you can move forward…And that’s okay.” and “When you have a bad day – a really bad day – try and treat the world better than it treated you,” which is a quote by Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump.
As the Eagles head to the “Big Game,” the Gaudreau family, despite not being associated with the NFL, know Johnny and Matthew will be looking down on New Orleans, hoping the Eagles can win their second Lombardi Trophy.
