Eagles starter jacket with a hidden message sparks new pay it forward Philly tradition

A Philadelphia Eagles fan made an unexpected discovery after the team’s Super Bowl victory parade this month — an abandoned jacket with a surprise message inside.

Amy Rannabargar, a graduate student at La Salle University, was celebrating the Eagles’ historic win at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on February 14 when she spotted a green Eagles Starter jacket hanging on a light post. Initially, she assumed another fan had accidentally left it behind. But as she approached, she noticed something taped inside the jacket — a handwritten note.

“If found, do not return. This jacket belongs to you!” the message read. “I found this jacket on the night of the Super Bowl in 2018, and it only felt right to release it back into the city when the Eagles won again. Enjoy the jacket. I hope you get the opportunity to release it back into the world with another SB win soon. Go Birds.”

Rannabargar, thrilled by the unexpected find, shared the story on social media. Her Facebook post quickly went viral, racking up over 16,000 likes on a public Philadelphia Eagles Fan Group page. In her caption, she wrote, “I cannot wait to pass this along on the next Super Bowl win 🦅💚🏆✨.”

A new Eagles tradition takes flight

The heartwarming gesture reminded Rannabargar of another community she’s part of — Deadheads, the devoted fans of the Grateful Dead. “I’m a Deadhead, and we do this thing called ‘miracle tickets,’ where people give away tickets to shows. That immediately went through my head,” she told NBC affiliate WPVI. “This felt like an Eagles version of that.”

While the jacket’s new owner describes herself as a “Dallas-raised girl who moved to Philadelphia,” she proudly identifies as a die-hard Birds fan. And despite her friends encouraging her to keep the jacket as a personal keepsake, Rannabargar knows what she has to do.

“This jacket has a story now. It’s not just about keeping it — it’s about paying it forward,” she explained. “The next time the Birds win the Super Bowl, I’ll be ready to pass it along.”

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The Eagles’ latest Super Bowl win marked just the second championship in franchise history, following their unforgettable 2018 victory over the New England Patriots. With quarterback Jalen Hurts leading the charge, fans are already dreaming of another parade down Broad Street.

Rannabargar is prepared for that moment. She’s already brainstorming the perfect hiding spot for the jacket and plans to include her own handwritten note, continuing the tradition for future generations of Eagles fans.

“Now that people know about it, I feel like the hunt will be on,” she said with a smile. “I’ve got to find a really good spot for it.”

Until then, the jacket’s journey symbolizes more than just fandom — it represents the unique bond that connects Eagles fans across the city and beyond. Because in Philadelphia, being an Eagles fan isn’t just about cheering for the team. It’s about community, tradition, and always looking out for the next person who needs a little bit of green-and-white magic.