New Orleans terror attack victims honored with tributes ahead of Super Bowl kickoff

NEW ORLEANS (Gray News) - Photos of the 14 people killed in the New Orleans terror attack on New Year’s Day were held by first responders during a tribute ahead of the Super Bowl kickoff.

Local EMS, firefighters, police, and other law enforcement who responded to the terror attack that happened on New Orleans’s famed Bourbon Street held the photos on the field of the Caesars Superdome in an honorary ceremony ahead of Super Bowl LIX.

“We mourn 14 lives that were taken too soon,” Cam Jordan, defensive end for the New Orleans Saints, said during the introduction.

The victims’ families served as honorary captains for Sunday’s game between the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

Among the families were the parents of Matthew Tenedorio. The family says the 25-year-old was working his dream job as part of the Saints’ gameday production team. He would have worked during this year’s Super Bowl.

The on-field tribute came after another tribute was held for the victims of the attack on Bourbon Street ahead of the game.

The hosts of Fox’s NFL Sunday introduced a musical tribute from pop icon Lady Gaga and spoke about the city’s resilience.

Saints’ and New Orleans Pelicans owner Gayle Benson, former Saints’ coach Sean Payton, as well as others including more first responders, joined the hosts on the street to honor the victims.

The Eagles beat the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl, 40-22.

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