Eagles fan goes viral after saving injured bald eagle from Florida highway

PHILADELPHIA – An Eagles fan in Florida is going viral and even receiving praise from the team for rescuing a bald eagle he found injured on the side of the road. And millions of people have followed the saga.

Avid Philadelphia Eagles fan Ryan McEvoy couldn't believe his eyes when he spotted a distressed bald eagle while driving along the Suncoast Parkway in Land O' Lakes, Florida just before 11 a.m. Monday. He stopped quickly.

“Honestly, I tested myself,” McEvoy explained. “I took my jacket out of my truck, slowly walked up to him, calmly pulled it over his head and gently picked him up. Next thing you knew he was in my work truck with a shotgun.”

Ryan contacted the Tampa Bay Raptor Center and drove 55 minutes to care for the bird, recording some of the rare rescues on his cell phone.

In the video, he spoke to the bird and said: “You’re still not sure about me, are you? Everything is fine. I promise I'll take care of you, buddy. You'll get the help you need Be back up there and fly again.

Ryan explained his strategy: “I turned the music down. I drove very slowly. No sudden movements or stops. I just talked to her.”

Of course, this 25-year-old Eagles fan couldn't resist naming the bird after one of his favorite birds. “Do you know what I’m going to call you? Saquon Barkley. Saquon Barkley. Saquon Barkley. Fly Eagles Fly Baby.”

He posted his adventure on TikTok and the Philadelphia Eagles happened to see it and replied:

“Thank you for saving Saquon.”

Ryan commented: “It made it so much better. It enriched my whole year.”

Tampa Bay's Raptor Center was ready for Ryan when he pulled up with the injured Eagle.

“I was a little surprised when I opened the door and found her just sitting in the passenger seat,” said center President Nancy Murrah.

Murrah says the bird was clearly hit by a car at high speed and the nearly 10-pound, 5-year-old female suffered a broken beak, wing and femur.

Murrah said: “There were really too many injuries to overcome, particularly the femur. The femur was inoperable.”

After consultation with numerous wildlife experts, the sad decision was made one day later to humanely euthanize the eagle. The Raptor Center says their loss is deeply felt.

“Not only is she our national bird, she was just a beautiful bird,” Murrah said. “Sad that her life ended like this. It was sad for Ryan too. He was so excited when he brought her in. He had an eagle tattooed on his chest.”