Eagles’ DeVonta Smith ‘rocks the baby’ with his TD celebration the day after his newborn daughter arrived
Smith's newborn daughter, Kyse, was delivered Saturday morning, and the receiver made the team flight and a key touchdown catch in a win against the Patriots.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith rocks the ball like a baby after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on Sunday, September 10, 2023.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — DeVonta Smith‘s weekend couldn’t have been scripted any better.
After catching a touchdown pass in the Eagles season-opening win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, the 24-year-old busted out a “rock the baby” celebration that hinted toward what transpired the day before.
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Standing at his locker in the depths of Gillette Stadium after the 25-20 Eagles squeaker, Smith let out a wide smile when asked what the meaning behind the celebration was: His newborn daughter Kyse, born to him and his girlfriend, Mya, early Saturday morning.
“Baby girl came yesterday morning,” Smith said. “Everything’s straight.”
Smith said Kyse’s delivery came earlier than expected, but the timing was kismet. The waiting game began for them on Friday night, but Smith was still able to make the team plane to Providence, R.I. by Saturday afternoon.
By the time he finished logging seven catches for 47 yards and a touchdown against New England, he was itching to return to his girlfriend and their new addition.
“It was a long night, man,” Smith said. “Long night, in the hospital all day, just waiting. It’s a blessing, man, very exciting. I’m ready to get back home to her now.
“Everything just lined up perfectly. It’s just we didn’t expect it.”
Smith’s long nights may not be stopping anytime soon, especially this week. The Eagles will host the Minnesota Vikings this Thursday and have plenty to address on offense coming out of the group’s first live action since February.
The offense had uncharacteristic spells of unproductively, including a stretch in the first half when the group went four straight drives without managing a first down. Smith’s score was the only offensive touchdown of the game for the high-powered offense. Smith’s seven catches tied A.J. Brown for the team-high and his 47 receiving yards was second on the team. He was instrumental in setting up a scoring drive early in the fourth quarter, logging three catches for 35 yards that series to get Jake Elliott in range for a 48-yard made field goal.
The touchdown came on the Eagles’ second series, when Smith grabbed a well-placed pass from Jalen Hurts from 5 yards out. Hurts put the ball low and outside, where only Smith could get it, and the third-year receiver made the catch falling to the ground.
By the time Smith got to his feet, Quez Watkins was already lobbying for him to do the celebration the group of wide receivers had discussed earlier.
“I enjoyed every minute of it,” Smith said. “It was amazing, man. Everybody was talking about it, like, ‘Let’s go! You have to rock the baby.’”
Said Hurts: “It was a very nice moment, a very nice moment for him. You know, obviously he’s a big-time player but even better person. So I can only imagine how great of a father he’ll be.”
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni greet after the game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on Sunday, September 10, 2023. The Eagles won, 25-20.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter points to fans as he walks off the field after the Eagles beat the New England Patriots 25-20.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis (right) reacts after the Eagles win over the Patriots.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and center Jason Kelce walk off the field after the Eagles beat the New England Patriots.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni (right) reacts as a Patriots catch was under review late in the fourth quarter. The call was ruled incomplete. Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter sacks New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones late in the fourth quarter.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter sacks New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones with less than a minute in the fourth quarter.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox was injured in the fourth quarter playing against the New England Patriots.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts loses the football after being hit by New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers in the fourth quarter.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles place kicker Jake Elliott celebrates another field goal in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick stops New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones on a fourth down play with 9:32 left in the fourth quarter.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles punter Arryn Siposs Philadelphia Eagles place kicker Jake Elliott after Elliott makes a 40-plus-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith goes up against New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger in the fourth quarter.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looks and throws to Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell during the third quarter against the New England Patriots.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was angry at a call in the third quarter against his offense for holding during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell is tripped up by New England Patriots linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley in the third quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay (right) tried to intercept a pass intended for New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne as the Eagles play the Patriots.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady greets fans during halftime of the Eagles and New England Patriots game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne catches the touchdown pass in the second quarter with 25 seconds left at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on Sunday.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
New England Patriots cornerback Myles Bryant upends Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown after making a reception near the end of the first quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles safety Sydney Brown takes down New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones on a punt return during the second quarter.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick go after a fumble by the New England Patriots during the first quarter.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay runs by New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne for a first-quarter interception touchdown.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the ball over New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers in the first quarter.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay celebrates touchdown return during the first quarter against the New England Patriots.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked by New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore in the red zone during the first quarter of the game.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles out of the pocket during the first quarter against the New England Patriots.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell, 14, fighting for some yards during the first quarter of the game against the New England Patriots.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell runs with the ball against the New England Patriots in the first quarter.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Smith said Brown, who welcomed his second child early last season, made sure to save the touchdown ball for Smith to deliver to his daughter once the team flies home.
Having gone through the emotions of a welcoming a newborn baby mid-season and the challenges it can present so recently, Brown said he has been giving Smith some pointers on how to manage the new household dynamics.
“I told him to nap when baby girl naps,” Brown said. “But just try to enjoy every moment. Don’t rush through it. Don’t rush to, ‘I wish they’d start crawling’ or try to speed up the process. Because once they start moving, it’s a whole ‘nother ball game.
“Being a father is the best job in the world. Football doesn’t come close to being a father. Just to see him go through the whole process, being there for his girl, it’s a beautiful thing.”
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