Philly Leader

The weekend was a tense one for former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter as he awaited news of his son's future in the NFL. On Saturday afternoon, while at West Virginia University with his son Josiah, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. received the call they had been hoping for.

"Man, the emotions. Unbelievable. Extremely happy. Extremely relieved. We finally got that phone call," said Trotter Sr., recalling the moment when his son was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, a team he himself once played for.

Jeremiah Trotter Sr., known as "Axe Man" during his time with the Eagles, was a third-round draft pick in 1998 and enjoyed a successful career that included four Pro Bowl selections and participation in Super Bowl XXXIX. He was inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame in 2016.

Now, watching his son join the same team brings him immense pride. "Jeremiah grew up a huge Eagles fan, obviously, and to get that call from Mr. Lurie (Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie) and Howie (Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman), it's truly a blessing," he shared.

The journey to this point has not been without its challenges for the Trotter family. They faced personal loss when wife and mother Tammi passed away from cancer in February 2023. Despite this hardship, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who played high school football at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia and later excelled at Clemson University, dedicated his efforts to his mother's memory.

His outstanding performance earned him second-team All-American honors and first-team All-ACC recognition in 2023 after recording significant stats including 88 tackles and two interceptions.

Reflecting on his son's achievement, Trotter Sr. expressed deep pride: "I thought about doing all of those interviews in my days on the team, holding Jeremiah in my arms. I'm super proud of what Jeremiah has accomplished."

Looking forward, both father and son are focused on football. "It takes hard work and Jeremiah knows that," said Trotter Sr., emphasizing dedication to the game above all else.

As they prepare for this new chapter with the Philadelphia Eagles, Jeremiah Trotter Sr.'s advice to his son is clear: "Keep your head down... Let your actions speak for itself."

This milestone marks another chapter for the Trotters within the NFL community—one filled with potential achievements yet grounded in hard work and passion for football.