Hundreds of thousands of overjoyed Philadelphia Eagles fans lined the city’s famed Broad Street on Friday to cheer on their beloved Birds as they parade with their guest of honor — the Lombardi Trophy.
The Eagles captured their second Super Bowl in eight seasons on Sunday, dominating the two-time-defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, at the Superdome in New Orleans.
Hours before the parade, fans — at some points dozens of people deep along the path — grabbed the best vantage point possible.
They may want to huddle close for warmth, as morning temperatures in Philly were in the low 30s, with windchill making it feel like the low 20s.
And all though the route, fans chanted in unison: “E, A, G, L, E, S, Eagles!”
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker pleaded with Eagles fans to please take it easy Friday.
“Let’s celebrate safely, with joy in our hearts, and let’s lift up our Birds and show how proud of them we all are,” she said.
Double-decker, top-off buses got rolling shortly after 11 a.m. EST, near Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in the shadows of the Eagles’ home at Lincoln Financial Field.
Quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts was at the front of that lead bus, smoking a cigar and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy next to Eagles CEO and Chairman Jeffrey Lurie.
The convoy’s slow progress prompted star running back Saquon Barkley, coach Nick Sirianni and other Eagles to jump off their buses at points to exchange high-fives with Birds backers.
Defensive end Brandon Graham, the longest tenured Eagle with 15 seasons in Philadelphia, said he wanted to record and soak in as much of Friday’s festivities as possible.
“Like I’m saying, enjoy this,” Graham, 36, told NBC Philadelphia. “I know that these opportunities, these moments, come and go, just make sure I document every day so I have something to show my kids, even though they’re here now.”
The moving party is set to roll north on Broad Street, taking 15th Street, John F. Kennedy Boulevard, 16th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway before ending at the Philadelphia Museum of Art apron.
The museum is closed Friday and the formal program there is set to start at 2 p.m.
The win on Sunday avenged a title game loss to Kansas City two years ago.
Philadelphia now has two Super Bowl trophies, following its 2018 victory over Tom Brady’s New England Patriots.
That game was best known for the “Philly Special,” a trick play on fourth-and-goal that ended with quarterback Nick Foles catching a most unlikely touchdown pass.
The Eagles won three pre-Super Bowl pro football titles, in 1960, 1949 and 1948.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
