Jalen Cyrus has autism and worried about fitting in. Now, he’s an Eagles staffer, and players wear a shirt he designed.
The 24-year-old wanted to depict Philly and the Eagles Autism Foundation. Proceeds from his shirt will go toward autism research and care.
Growing up, Eagles staff member Jalen Cyrus always asked himself, “Am I ever going to succeed?”
Now, the 24-year-old Folsom, Pa., native has no doubts after watching Eagles players wear his T-shirt design on Monday Night Football ahead of the Eagles game against the Dallas Cowboys.
“I was probably in middle school when I was like, ‘Why are people treating me not like everyone else?’” Cyrus said. “And then my parents told me I was born with autism and all that stuff, and I started thinking, ‘Am I ever going to be like everyone else? Am I ever going to succeed?’ But it turns out I am.”
Cyrus, a die-hard Birds fan, has worked with the Eagles for two seasons, starting in August 2025 as a game day event staffer working the escalators on the main concourse. But one of his main passions is art, and he holds a degree in art from Landmark College.
And two weeks ago, he had the chance to see his two worlds collide.
“One of the coordinators asked me if I could make a T-shirt design for the Eagles Autism Foundation because she noticed I had a degree in art,” Cyrus said. “I actually created multiple designs, and a lot of people liked the ‘Go Birds.’ I was just thinking of things that represent Philly, and I was just working with the only colored pencil and markers I had in my house. So I was creating things that represent Philly and the Eagles Autism Foundation.”
Cyrus created three designs, including one in the shape of an eagle head, another in the shape of a football, and the “Go Birds” shirt that features images paying homage to the city, the Eagles Autism Foundation, and Swoop.
But Cyrus had no idea the team and Eagles staff would be wearing the T-shirt design ahead of Monday Night Football.
“I really wasn’t expecting that at all,” Cyrus said. “Like, they fully surprised me with the whole thing. When I walked on the field, I started to notice my design on the T-shirts and everything. But the whole time, I was just in shock.”
The “Go Birds” shirts are now available for $30 to preorder and will ship in mid-December. Proceeds will fund autism research and care programs — a mission close to Cyrus’ heart.
“To me, personally, I feel like it’s really important because I know there are some people that just don’t understand the autism community,” Cyrus said. “So I feel like EAF definitely shows people what the autism community is like and how important it is to include everybody.”
The Eagles Autism Foundation hosts clinics and social outings for neurodiverse game day staff members, including trips to Bates Motel, as well as Sixers and Phillies games. And as Cyrus continues to work with the Birds, he says he also will continue to post his artwork online through his Instagram page, @cryusartworks.
“I really like to create things, draw, take photos, and use iMovie to get into video editing,” Cyrus said. “With that Instagram page, I just want to post random stuff that I make. Even if I’m outside and taking landscape photos, I can post that too.”
With the Eagles’ season gradually going up in flames, there’s been plenty of external fingerpointing. The offense, specifically the line, has drawn considerable ire, especially in light of the Eagles parting ways with longtime, beloved assistant coach Jeff Stoutland. Stoutland’s track record on the offensive line is Hall of Fame-worthy. This year, with Chris Kuper as Stoutland’s replacement, the line has regressed.
Should Kuper shoulder most of the blame? What really happened between Stoutland and the Eagles that caused their relationship to fall apart? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane dives deeper into one of the biggest “what ifs” from a frustrating season, framing Stoutland’s exit around four key questions. Listen here.
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