The Eagles’ locker room was in full celebration following a 38-7 domination of the Vikings last Sunday in the NFC Championship. The emphatic victory in front of their home fans at Lincoln Financial Field had earned the Eagles a trip to Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis.
While hugs and smiles were being shared, Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox stood in front of his locker room in a more solemn mood. Someone asked him: Why?
“My brother,” Cox said. “That’s the biggest part about this. It’s kind of hard for me now. I just wish he was here to watch it. But I know he’s watching over me.”
On Jan. 12, 2015, Fletcher Cox’s older brother, Shaddrick “Trell” Cox Sr., suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 34. Trell, who had suffered from heart issues and diabetes, was Fletcher’s biggest motivator and cheerleader. He was the man of the house amid four kids raised by their mother Malissa, a single parent, in Yazoo City, Miss. His death still weighs heavy on Fletcher’s heart.
When the final seconds ticked off Sunday night and the reality of going to the Super Bowl was assured, Cox reflected back on all those conversations and moments he had shared with his brother and wished he could be with him to share what is happening now.
“That’s the first person I thought about,” Cox said. “That’s all he used to always talk about: ‘I want to come to a Super Bowl game.’ People are asking me what’s wrong. But that’s the biggest thing about all this.”
There was plenty for Trell and the rest of the Cox family to be proud of. Cox didn’t have a monster game like he did in the divisional playoff win against the Falcons — when he had seven tackles, a sack and two tackles for losses. He was credited for three tackles and two quarterback hits against the Vikings and was part of a defense that pitched a shutout after Minnesota scored on its opening drive of the game.
“Emotions took over on the first drive for us,” Cox said. “[The Vikings] made a couple of plays, and [Case Keenum] made a good throw in the red zone, and they scored. They get paid, too. After we settled down, they weren’t able to spit a yard out.”
The Eagles defense limited the Vikings to just 70 yards rushing and forced three turnovers, including the 50-yard interception return for a touchdown by Patrick Robinson that began a string of 38 unanswered points.
“This team just keeps growing,” Cox said. “We keep finding ways to win. We keep playing together in each phase: offense, defense and special teams. When we’re not beating ourselves, nobody in the league can beat us.”
The Eagles face the Patriots in Super Bowl LII next Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. It will be a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX, won 24-21 by the Patriots in Jacksonville, Fla., in February 2005. The Patriots have been installed as the favorite. It fits well with the Eagles embrace of their underdog image.
“That’s good,” Cox said. “We haven’t been talked about all year. That’s our story: No one has been talking about Philly, the Eagles’ defense or the Eagles’ offense. If you go back and look, we finished in the top five of a bunch of different categories.”
In June 2016, Cox signed a six-year, $103 million extension with $63 million guaranteed against injury. It’s one of the richest contracts, and has the most guaranteed money, for a non-quarterback. And though he makes a ton of money, it’s the depth of the Eagles defensive line that overwhelms teams.
“We just have great competition in that room,” Cox said. “We’re all just trying to get to the quarterback.”
Cox has had 12 regular-season sacks over the past two years and has now reached the Super Bowl. His brother, Trell, would be proud.