f.Eagles Defender Steps Away After Heartbreaking Family Tragedy Tied to Brown University Shooting.f

What began as a routine Saturday on a quiet Ivy League campus quickly turned into a nightmare.

Police in Providence, Rhode Island, are continuing an intense manhunt after a mass shooting erupted inside an academic building at Brown University, leaving two people dead and nine others wounded. The gunfire broke out during a final exam review session, sending students scrambling for cover as chaos unfolded inside the classroom.

Authorities say the suspect entered the building around 4:00 p.m. local time, shouted something witnesses could not fully recall, and opened fire. Students ducked under seats, fled hallways, and hid in nearby buildings as police rushed the scene. Emergency responders flooded the campus, and all remaining in person exams were immediately canceled.

Two victims were later identified as university students, while several others were hospitalized with gunshot wounds. Investigators initially detained a person of interest, but later released him after determining the evidence pointed in a different direction. As of Sunday night, officials said there was no immediate threat to the campus, though the search for the suspect remains active.

One student described the moments after hearing gunshots as pure panic, while another said she felt numb once she realized the danger had passed. Brown University confirmed that families of the victims are receiving support and that counseling services have been made available to students and staff.

As the national spotlight focused on the tragedy, the ripple effects of the shooting quietly reached the Philadelphia Eagles locker room.

Late Sunday, the team confirmed that one of its starting defenders would be stepping away from football this week for deeply personal reasons. His younger brother, a current student at Brown University, was among those injured in the shooting and remains hospitalized.

That player is Mac McWilliams.

The Eagles defensive back has been granted time away from the team and will not play in the upcoming Sunday night game against the Raiders, choosing instead to be at his brother’s side during what the family describes as an overwhelming and emotional period.

Head coach Nick Sirianni addressed the situation with empathy, making it clear football comes second in moments like this.

“Our hearts are with him and his family,” Sirianni said. “When something like this happens, there’s nothing more important than being there for the people you love. We fully support him taking the time he needs. That’s family. That’s life. Football will always be here.”

Several teammates were visibly shaken by the news, with players privately reaching out to offer support. Inside the locker room, the focus shifted from game plans to perspective, a reminder that the sport exists alongside real life pain and uncertainty.

While the Eagles prepare for kickoff without one of their defensive contributors, the priority remains clear. The organization, players, and fans alike are rallying around their teammate as his family navigates an unimaginable situation.

For now, wins and losses fade into the background. What matters most is recovery, healing, and standing together when it counts most.

Former Eagles Player Donates $10,000 to Philadelphia Children During Christmas Season.

In the warm spirit of the holiday season, a deeply human story has begun to spread across Philadelphia, as a former Eagles player quietly returned to a place close to his heart to give back.

The former player donated $10,000 to host a special Christmas shopping event for 20 students at Andrew Hamilton School in South Philly, creating moments of joy many of the children had never experienced before.

Each child received $500 to personally choose clothes, shoes, and holiday gifts, serving as a reward for their strong school attendance and dedication throughout the year.

More than just material gifts, the event provided encouragement, care, and a powerful reminder that their efforts matter and their futures are worth believing in.

The man behind the emotional gesture was Joel Gamble, a former Philadelphia Eagles player who has never forgotten the difficult times of his own childhood.

“I will never forget the place that helped me when I had nothing,” Gamble said emotionally. “Now I just want to come back and do something meaningful for the community that raised me.”

The event became even more special as several former NFL players joined in, contributing funds for food and sending messages of encouragement to the children.

For the students in South Philly, it was more than a Christmas shopping trip. It was a memory that may stay with them for a lifetime, reminding them that hard work is seen and rewarded.

In a time when negative headlines often dominate the news cycle, Joel Gamble’s act stands as proof that football creates not only stars on the field, but people who return home to lift others up.

For Gamble, the greatest gift was not the money he gave, but the smiles of the children in the city that once gave him a chance to change his life.