A.J. Dillon, the Philadelphia Eagles running back, turned a 12‑foot inflatable Easter Bunny into a locker‑room headline. The oversized bunny was bought on sale while Dillon was picking out decorations for the team’s running‑back room. He hoped the bright rabbit would lift spirits before Monday Night Football, but the joke didn’t land as expected.
Positivity Rabbit
When reporters entered the Eagles’ locker room last Saturday afternoon, the bunny was the first thing they saw. It was anchored in the middle of the room near the running‑back stalls, a stark contrast to the usual football gear. Dillon explained that he was “literally already buying something for our (meeting) room and everybody was buying stuff for their rooms,” and that he “was like, ‘Oh, look at this. On sale and it’s big. We’ll put it here and get the guys laughing a little bit.’ And the vibes were high. But it didn’t work. So I came in and took it down.”
Locker Room Vibes
The bunny was not part of a team‑wide initiative; it was a personal attempt to keep the mood light. Dillon later reflected, “If I thought about it a little longer, probably, like, ‘Yeah, media comes in here,’” but he remembered the room was already full of holiday décor. He noted, “But it’s our locker room, our space. Everybody is decorating all the rooms for Christmas and things like that. I have a Cornish hen in our room. I know the O‑line has a bunch of stuff. I was like, ‘We’ll put this here.’ The biggest thing I could find was an Easter Bunny.” The bunny was removed after the Eagles’ 22‑19 overtime loss to the Chargers.
Dillon’s Role Off the Field
Despite not seeing game action since early October, Dillon has been a steady presence in the locker room. He says, “I just think it’s important for me, how I can contribute to the team right now not playing.” He added, “I’m going to keep the vibes going. I’m going to keep everybody locked in still but let’s have some fun. While doing that respectfully, I think that’s important. I have kind of just owned it and guys have seemed to respond to it well and it’s been good.” Dillon also uses fingerless football gloves to make teammates laugh, reinforcing his “first‑team all‑vibes” persona.
Career Context
Dillon signed with the Eagles in the offseason after missing the entire 2024 season. Early this year, he appeared to earn a role, logging 12 carries for 60 yards (5.0) over six games. The Eagles traded for Tank Bigsby, and Dillon has since been the odd man out. He has not played since Week 6 and has been inactive in six of the last seven games. Dillon said, “Just being around in the league for a while, Year 6 as a running back is hard to do. I’m embracing it. Love being here, love the city, love the team.” He also recalls learning the value of fun from Aaron Rodgers, who “always wanted to respect the game, but wanted to have fun while doing it.”
Takeaways
- The 12‑foot inflatable Easter Bunny became a temporary morale booster in the Eagles’ locker room.
- Dillon’s focus on light‑heartedness has earned him praise from teammates, including Will Shipley’s “first‑team all‑vibes” comment.
- Despite limited playing time, Dillon remains committed to contributing to the team’s culture and readiness.
The bunny may be gone, but Dillon’s efforts to keep the locker room upbeat continue, illustrating how a player can influence team spirit even when not on the field.
