Long before it became a fan-favorite fixture, the Philadelphia Eagles helmet cart was just a quirky sideline vehicle, until one Media family turned it into a piece of NFL history.
It started in 1981, when Dean Keyes, then a recent founder of Keyes Towing, volunteered to transport the original helmet cart to Super Bowl XV in New Orleans for free. That simple gesture began a decades-long relationship with the Eagles. A few years later, when the Eagles’ injury cart was damaged, Dean repaired it and offered to store the carts between games. The Eagles owner Norman Braman decided that, if Dean brought the cart to every home game, it would be his. And he did, faithfully, for years.
Fans came to know the oversized helmet as part of the game-day spectacle. After every touchdown at Veterans Stadium, Dean would climb in and drive the cart around the field in celebration. It was a symbol of Philadelphia pride.
The cart’s game-day run ended in 2003 when the Eagles moved to Lincoln Financial Field, where its smaller field dimensions couldn’t accommodate the cart. Since then, Dean rebuilt and reinvented the helmet carts. He eventually had three, including one originally from Washington (a Redskins helmet that was repainted to a green Eagles helmet) and a road-ready Kubota version created in 2017. That model even made a cheeky appearance on the Dallas Cowboys’ midfield star during a trip to Texas.
One of Dean’s most favorite, biggest, and proudest moments with the carts was when he brought it to Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville in 2005. In Jacksonville, he not only joined in the festivities, but he also helped with charity projects for underprivileged children. Crystal, his daughter, fondly remembers how he practically shut down the business for the week and even had some of the drivers in his towing company drive things down in preparation of the game and the charity projects. Over the years, he used the cart to rally at countless community events, from “Dining Under the Stars” to Elwyn parades and Media’s Christmas celebration.
When Dean was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2021, Crystal Keyes took over Keyes Towing in 2022 and continues the family’s mission, keeping the helmet cart rolling through local pep rallies, holiday parades, and Eagles celebrations. Even Dean’s grandson, Ryan, is eager to carry the torch as the next generation. Crystal says, “What I love most is being able to carry on what my dad has done and how much he’s helped the community.”
Today, Media is the legendary helmet carts’ final home, where the Keyes family’s love and devotion for the Eagles help unite the town. The sight of the iconic Kubota carrying its green helmet down State Street has become a tradition integral to Media’s charm.
About Keyes Towing
Keyes Towing was established in 1977 in Media by Dean Keyes and is now in its second generation of family ownership. Crystal Keyes carries forward her father’s legacy of dependable service and community dedication. tinyurl.com/KeyesTowing