McFadden rooting for his old team in Super Bowl

February 1, 2018 at 12:00a.m.

McFadden spent

4 years with Eagles

Paul McFadden’s status as former NFL kicker only goes so far.

Since the Super Bowl LII matchup was determined two Sunday’s ago, the Poland native has been asked a few times if he scored a trip to Minneapolis courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles. McFadden was a barefoot kicker for the Eagles for four seasons from 1984-88.

“I’ve been joking with everyone,” McFadden said. “They’ve asked me if the Eagles wanted me to go and I said, Yes, if I give them $5,000 for a cheap seat.’”

McFadden will being enjoying the Eagles’ championship matchup with the New England Patriots from home, just as he did the last time the Eagles went in 2005. He spent the majority of his six-season NFL career in Philadelphia and still has a fondess for the team in Kelly green.

“I’m still an Eagles fan through and through,” McFadden said. “Am I nostalgic? Yes, and I’m pulling for them because they’ve never won one before and it’d be so nice to see them win one.”

McFadden, currently the president of the Youngstown State University Foundation, is one of four YSU connections to Sunday’s game. The others are former Penguins and Eagles QB Ron Jaworski and defensive end Derek Rivers is on injured reserve for the Patriots. Current Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo is the son of former YSU offensive coordinator, Gene DeFilippo.

Jaworski and McFadden were teammates in Philadelphia and the pair still keep in touch. McFadden travels to Atlantic City once a year for Jaworski’s celebrity golf tournament to reconnect with his fellow Eagles alumni. Jaworski did not return a call for comment.

“It’s a new generation now, there isn’t anyone there now that was associated with the team in the 1980s, but those fans, they’re unbelievable,” McFadden said. “Sometimes its a little over the top, but you have to allow that they’re passionate and loyal to their team.”

Every three years, he and his family take a trip to Philadelphia to catch an Eagles game. McFadden has seen that passion first-hand.

“I was taking my two sons to a game. We decided to take the subway down to the game and it was quite the experience,” McFadden said. “We saw a few fights in the subway.”

Jaworski led the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance in 1980, but fell to the Oakland Raiders, 27-10. McFadden is hoping the current group can succeed where other generations fell short.

“I’m really pulling for them. I really hope they can finally win one,” McFadden said.