There truly is no place like Philly and no fans like Philly sports fans. So when the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl 44-20 on Feb. 9, I knew it would be well worth the trip to go to the Eagles victory parade.
At 5 a.m. my crew and I rolled into Bryn Mawr station dressed head-to-toe in green and Eagles gear. The only other person at the station at that time was wearing an Eagles jersey and immediately greeted us with a “go birds.” This was the first of what would probably be a couple hundred “go birds” I would hear that day.
Along with some of my friends and family members, who are all Eagles fans, was University of Rhode Island fourth-year and New England Patriots fan Casey McQuesten, who joined us just for the fun of the event.
“It’s nice to see some other teams get some time in the spotlight,” McQuesten said jokingly.
After taking the train downtown, we walked to the parade viewing section right in front of the art museum. The iconic Rocky Statue had been moved to the top of the ‘Rocky Steps,’ and the building, like many of the others around the city, was illuminated in green light.
Despite the early hour and cold temperatures, fans started piling into the area and filling up along Broad Street. Fans took the phrase “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” and gave a new meaning to it by starting to drink during the early hours of the morning and continuing throughout the celebration.
“People were drinking like the prohibition had ended,” my friend Alex Germick said.
A Philly celebration wouldn’t be complete without fans climbing things. Throughout the day, fans filled the two fountains on either side of the Washington Monument at Eakins Oval. Just when I thought no one else could possibly fit into the fountains without it collapsing or accidents ensuing, another person would be pulled in.
Other fans could be found climbing trees, light poles and really anything else they could get on top of. Flags that read “Super Bowl Champions” billowed in the wind.
As the morning progressed and the sun began to come out, more and more people started arriving. As the crowd grew in size, so did the energy.
While the first few hours were a bit rough from the exhaustion and cold, once the sun came out and the music started playing, the event started to become lively.
Walking around the event before the parade was complete mayhem. I found myself doing the “tush-push” to get through the crowds and walk around the art museum and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Large screens were spread out throughout the parade area and showed a replay of the Eagles dominating the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. The crowd went wild for the “tush-push,” AJ Brown’s touchdown and of course, Cooper DeJean’s pick-six.
At 11 a.m., the parade began 13 miles away at Lincoln Financial Field. In just a few short hours, the entire Philadelphia Eagles team would be parading up to the Rocky Steps right in front of me.
For the next two and a half hours, people danced, drank and yelled “go birds” to one another. Fans toting a pouting Patrick Mahomes head paraded it around, gaining cheers from the amassing crowd.
Finally, a little before 1:20 p.m., the parade reached us, led by Swoop and the Eagles cheerleaders. Fans everywhere were cheering in celebration of a team they had supported all season.
The crowd cheered loudest when quarterback Jalen Hurts paraded by hoisting up the Lombardi Trophy.
For many fans, this victory meant the world to them, and you could tell from their excitement and celebration.
The day was equally exciting for the players themselves. Later that day, I would watch as local news stations struggled to censor the profanities used by Eagles players during their speeches. Time and time again they would pause the livestream to say, “we apologize for that,” before returning to the speech just to have to cut away moments later.
During the parade, Cooper DeJean told a FOX interviewer that the parade might have been “the best day of my life.”
While these athletes seem far away from the people who watch them, seeing the parade showed me just how similar they are to the people who idolize them. These players are Philly, in their enthusiasm, way of celebrating and love for the city.
Making my way out of the crowd, through inches of mud and discarded trash, I couldn’t help but smile. Even though Philly fans might be crazier or more passionate than others, there is a sense of camaraderie among them that fits into the ‘City of Brotherly Love.’
With that said, we’ll see you in the 2025-26 NFL season, and GO BIRDS!
