@matt_breen

Writing sports features for @PhillyInquirer. Philadelphia native. Temple and Archbishop Ryan grad.

 Philadelphia
inquirer.com/author/breen_matt/
Joined May 2010
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Big Phan, a documentary about the Phanatic, premieres Saturday at the Philly Film Festival. It's excellent and it could only have been made by two brothers who grew up at the Vet. inquirer.com/phillies/phanat…

How two Philadelphia brothers became the perfect people to make a documentary about the Phanatic

Big Phan — which premiers Saturday at the Philadelphia Film Festival — took two years to finish as the Kepner brothers tapped into their childhood and told a story that only they could.

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He had a seizure at Wrestlemania and was so happy with how the Linc staff helped him that he returned to Newcastle, England an Eagles fan “for life.” He turned his U.K. bar into a Birds nest and was on Broad Street when the Eagles won the NFC title. inquirer.com/eagles/london-n…

A seizure at the Linc turned this Brit into an Eagles fan and his U.K. bar into a Birds nest

Eagles super fan Allan Scorer turned a bar atop his music venue into a haven for Birds fans in an England neighborhood he likens to Fishtown. And it all started with a migraine.

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Four names to watch in Phillies manager search
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The goal was why Cavan Sullivan called the night "the best feeling I’ve ever experienced." But his defensive pressing all game was why Mauricio Pochettino called him "a fighter” and “a warrior." The teen from Philadelphia was front and center again: inquirer.com/soccer/cavan-su…

Cavan Sullivan’s stunning first USMNT goal was part of an incredible game against Mexico

Sullivan called scoring his 35-yard chip "the best feeling I’ve ever experienced." He also was great at defensive pressing, which led Mauricio Pochettino to say "he’s a fighter, he’s a warrior."

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Newts alumni Cavan Sullivan is youngest to ever score for the USMNT.
Matt Breen@matt_breenSep 25
How did a kid from Bridesburg become the future of U.S. soccer? Start in the basement on Almond Street and the three older brothers who shaped Cavan Sullivan. share.inquirer.com/hbNk5n

A Bridesburg basement and three older brothers helped Cavan Sullivan become the future of U.S....

The same neighborhood that shaped Sullivan is what powered Philadelphia soccer for generations. He’s only 16 and he could be the face of a sport. But his emergence was generations in the making.

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I sat down with Cavan Sullivan, Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield - all together - at their first #USMNT camp. "Every moment is sort of like a pinch-me moment," Sullivan said. Now comes "the biggest game of our lives," their first U.S.-Mexico showcase: inquirer.com/soccer/cavan-su…

Cavan Sullivan, Neil Pierre, and Frankie Westfield savor ‘a pinch-me moment’ with their USMNT debuts

The trio of Union players sat down together for a joint interview with The Inquirer ahead of what Sullivan called ‘the biggest game of our lives’: their first showdown with rival Mexico.

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Matt Breen retweeted
Conor Smith
@conorfsmithSep 28
At Sixers media day, LeBron mentioned playing at the Palestra. "Been doing this for 23 years now. Had actually came here in high school, as well, and played at the Palestra my senior year. It was that same type of atmosphere." @matt_breen's got the story: inquirer.com/sixers/lebron-j…

LeBron James first played in Philly as a teen and had no interest in seeing the Liberty Bell

LeBron's St. Vincent-St. Mary high school team, a national power, played Strawberry Mansion and its star, Maureece Rice, in 2002. They filled the Palestra (and then some).

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Cavan Sullivan starts in his #USMNT debut against Peru inquirer.com/soccer/cavan-su…

Cavan Sullivan makes USMNT debut in 4-1 win over Peru

Taking the field two days before his 17th birthday, Sullivan became the fourth-youngest player in team history. Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield also made their senior U.S. debuts.

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Cavan Sullivan is starting today for the USMNT.
Matt Breen@matt_breenSep 25
How did a kid from Bridesburg become the future of U.S. soccer? Start in the basement on Almond Street and the three older brothers who shaped Cavan Sullivan. share.inquirer.com/hbNk5n

A Bridesburg basement and three older brothers helped Cavan Sullivan become the future of U.S....

The same neighborhood that shaped Sullivan is what powered Philadelphia soccer for generations. He’s only 16 and he could be the face of a sport. But his emergence was generations in the making.

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Scott Bandura’s MLB debut marked a full-circle moment that began with his dad in Philly ebx.sh/ysFxmB
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How did a kid from Bridesburg become the future of U.S. soccer? Start in the basement on Almond Street and the three older brothers who shaped Cavan Sullivan. share.inquirer.com/hbNk5n

A Bridesburg basement and three older brothers helped Cavan Sullivan become the future of U.S....

The same neighborhood that shaped Sullivan is what powered Philadelphia soccer for generations. He’s only 16 and he could be the face of a sport. But his emergence was generations in the making.

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No one can tell the story of Cavan Sullivan and his family’s northeast Philadelphia roots better than @matt_breen, because it’s his part of his lifelong city. Here it is, deeply reported and wonderfully written: inquirer.com/soccer/cavan-su… via @phillysport

A Bridesburg basement and three older brothers helped Cavan Sullivan become the future of U.S....

The same neighborhood that shaped Sullivan is what powered Philadelphia soccer for generations. He’s only 16 and he could be the face of a sport. But his emergence was generations in the making.

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Philly’s Notre Dame Harvey is making his 50th annual trip to South Bend this weekend and bringing Grays Ferry with him. They’ll be the crew with the kitty on the bar. “We’re Philly people. We throw up a kitty. People don’t know what a kitty is.” inquirer.com/college-sports/…

Philly’s Notre Dame Harvey is making his 50th trip to South Bend and bringing Grays Ferry with him

The Grays Ferry clan makes a pilgrimage every year to South Bend, Ind., but the experience is about more than football. It’s hard to explain, Harvey says, until you make the trip.

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First two things I read after an Eagles game: Jeff’s morning after piece and Cheese’s column. Great pod
Jeff McLane
@Jeff_McLaneSep 15
New Pod! “unCovering the Birds” Day-After breaks down #Eagles-Commies — and tries not to overreact — to the good or bad: From Jalen Hurts’ strong debut in the new offense to Landon Dickerson’s issues. @ByDavidMurphy joins: 📻 go.audacy.com/5qODeLYXq6b 📺 youtu.be/D-CzQL_DPQc
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Always made sure I documented the important events
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Nothing like the overreactions every Monday after Week 1
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Merrill Reese begins his 50th season today. A look at how he gets ready each week and what it means to be the Voice of the Eagles. youtu.be/-Hm0Wju6kvk?is=1npk…

How Merrill Reese's wife helps him stay sharp as the voice of the...

Merrill Reese enters his 50th year as the voice of the Eagles, and ...

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Matt Breen retweeted
Jeff Neiburg@Jeff_NeiburgSep 12
Inquirer Sports Daily newsletter subscribers have a new weekend Eagles edition from me. It’ll also live on the website. Here’s Lane Johnson on the one thing he’s emotional about this week, and everything else you need to know ahead of Sunday: inquirer.com/eagles/eagles-c…

Eagles vs. Commanders: Predictions, odds, injury updates, and what everyone is talking about...

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will host the Washington Commanders as they open their 2026 season at Lincoln Financial Field. Here's everything you need to know about their Week 1 matchup.

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Flag Man marched around Veterans Stadium during Phillies games after 9/11. 25 years later, he’s better for it. “It was just being present and showing support for these people who were doing extraordinary things.” inquirer.com/phillies/flag-m…
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This is Merrill Reese's 50th season as the Voice of the Eagles. It's no farewell tour, he said. Merrill wants to do the job forever and his wife -- who has been with him the whole way -- helps keep him sharp. inquirer.com/eagles/merrill-…

Merrill Reese wants to broadcast Eagles games ‘forever.’ His wife helps him stay sharp after 50...

Don’t call 2026 a farewell tour — the voice of the Eagles says he isn’t going anywhere. He’s having too much fun. And Cindy, his wife of 47 years, is his partner for all of it.

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