When Byron Young’s father, Kenny, died suddenly in late March, Young returned home to Mississippi but stayed just a week.

Young was quickly back in Philadelphia to chase his dream.

“I know if he was here, he would have told me, ‘All right, you can cry a little bit but go ahead and go back to work,’” Young said this week. “Because that’s the kind of man he was and that’s kind of what I try to carry every single day.”

While Young, 24, left his family to return to Philly in early April, he at least had his teammate and friend Gabe Hall. Young and Hall grew extremely close during the course of the 2024 season and now consider each other brothers.

Hall was there for Young during a tough part of his life this spring.

“He was the only person I felt comfortable going to and being with him and crying on his shoulder,” Young explained. “That’s something that a lot of guys might struggle with but he and I have that friendship to where we can connect with each other on a deeper level than a lot of guys might just think as teammates. I would say he’s a brother to me and it goes past football.”

That’s what made it so special this week when both on-the-bubble defensive tackles made the Eagles’ initial 53-man roster.

“Amazing. I got another year with my brother,” Hall said. “We’re going to keep working, keep pushing.”

It’s not too hard to see why Young and Hall grew so close during the 2024 season. As young put it, “I think we were kind of in the same boat.”

Young was initially selected by the Raiders in the third round of the 2023 draft but was waived at final cuts ahead of the 2024 season. The Eagles claimed him and kept him on their 53-man roster until he landed on IR on Oct. 25. He didn’t play a single snap for the Super Bowl champions but was in the building the entire season.

Hall joined the Eagles as an undrafted rookie from Baylor last spring. The Eagles waived him at final cuts and when Hall cleared waivers, the Eagles signed him to their practice squad. Hall spent the entire 2024 season on the practice squad, was never elevated and, just like Young, didn’t play a single snap. But he was around too.

Young and Hall spent a lot of time together behind the scenes.

“We were just able to connect because we were doing the scout team stuff,” Young said. “But when everybody else left, he and I would stay back. We were working with a guy we call Pat (McDowell), who is a developmental guy. He worked with us the entire offseason, every single day. We just grew close because of the work we put in.”

Young and Hall are defensive tackles but they’re very different players. Young is shorter and squattier, a better fit to be a backup nose tackle. Hall is longer and is more of a slashing threat to get into the backfield. But their unique body types and play styles complement one another.

The Eagles’ starters at defensive tackle this season are Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo. The role for Young, Hall and rookie Ty Robinson will be to spell those starters when they come out of games for plays or series.

Cut-down day was of course a little stressful for Young and Hall as they waited, hoped and prayed. After the 4 p.m. deadline on Tuesday passed, they knew they both made the team.

It’s even more special that they did it together.

“One of my best friends,” Hall said. “We always hang out together. If I have free time, I’m probably hanging out with him. That’s my brother to me. Me and him always working hard. This whole offseason, we was all working. You need someone to push. Days on long, you’re tire, you’re achey, but you know what we’re trying to get to. That’s my brother.”