Making an NFL cheer squad is already a pretty big deal. But some life updates deserve more than a group chat — they deserve a phone call to Mom while you’re still running on graduation adrenaline.
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For Jackson O’Brien, the news was much bigger than a graduation-day surprise. The gay performing arts graduate from Stockton University had just walked across the stage when he found out he had earned a coveted spot on the Philadelphia Eagles cheer squad for the upcoming NFL season.
Naturally, his first instinct was to call his mom. And thankfully, someone captured the moment.
@jaxobrienn craziest experience of my life, from walking up getting my diploma, to being chosen as a philadelphia eagles cheerleader seconds later! forever grateful to dance and perform, and i’m so beyond excited for this next chapter in life 🦅💚 #nfl #nflcheerleader #philadelphiaeagles #gobirds #dance
The emotional video of O’Brien sharing the news has since gone viral, racking up around 2.5 million views on TikTok before being shared by the official Eagles Cheer Instagram account. Because apparently, sometimes the algorithm knows exactly when it has been handed a genuinely adorable moment.
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O’Brien found out just seconds after crossing the graduation stage and immediately phoned his mom to deliver the news.
“It was such a surreal moment, and with my friends all around me, it made it all the more special,” he said.
From graduation gown to Eagles green
There is something particularly satisfying about watching someone realize that the life they have been working toward is suddenly happening in real time. For O’Brien, the past few days have been a whirlwind of graduation celebrations, a new professional chapter and, presumably, a frankly unreasonable number of people telling him congratulations. Landing an NFL cheerleading spot makes that graduation day even harder to top.
Looking back at how quickly his life has changed, O’Brien told his TikTok followers just how stunned his younger self would be.
@jaxobrienn truly a week i will never forget, thank you for giving me so much love and encouragement for this season, and to everyone in my life who have been my side through it all 🥹💚 #dance #nfl #nflcheerleader #philadelphiaeagles #gobirds
“If Jackson from last year saw where he is now, he would literally be like, ‘diva, you’re lying’. But I’m not! I’m not! I’m here!” he said.
Honestly, “diva, you’re lying” is an excellent reaction to almost any major life achievement. New job? Diva, you’re lying. Dream apartment? Diva, you’re lying. Finally getting that man to text back? We may need further evidence.
But for O’Brien, the moment represents something much deeper than a viral clip.
“I will say until the day I die that dance saved my life. Now I have so many more people I get to dance for.
“I just am so grateful for this moment and this opportunity. And I can’t wait to keep showing up, showing who I am, and seeing all the support from everyone.”
That sense of gratitude also came through in a post on Instagram, where O’Brien thanked the people who helped him get to this point — a journey that has now landed him on an NFL cheer squad.
“To my friends and family who never let my light dim, thank you for being the glue what always keeps me together.”
He continued:
“To represent one of the biggest sports teams in the country is an absolute dream, I feel so lucky to live this life. Always remember where you came from. Always say yes to dance, and go birds!!”
O’Brien is helping make NFL cheerleading a little more fabulous
O’Brien will join the 32-member Philadelphia Eagles cheer team as one of nine rookies for the 2026 NFL season.
The Philadelphia Eagles now have male cheerleaders. pic.twitter.com/N4sytTBFzq
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 31, 2026
He will also be one of four male dancers on the squad, alongside returning cheerleaders Dalton Walsh, Alex Fan and five-year veteran James LeGette.
That makes his achievement worth celebrating beyond the graduation-day tears and adorable phone call, especially as he prepares to begin his NFL cheerleading journey. Male cheerleaders have increasingly become a visible part of professional cheerleading, and O’Brien is stepping into that space while openly embracing who he is and the art that helped shape his life.
There is also something wonderfully full-circle about the timing. O’Brien graduated from a performing arts program and almost immediately found himself stepping into an NFL cheerleading career — then calling his mom to scream the news. That is not a bad first act.
And if his viral video has shown anything, it is that people are more than happy to root for someone who is unapologetically excited about getting the opportunity they dreamed about.
So congratulations, Jackson O’Brien. May the new season bring plenty of touchdowns, flawless choreography, supportive teammates and enough dramatic entrances to keep the diva allegations alive. And yes, Mom definitely deserved that phone call.