Eagles fans fill Philly streets to celebrate with their heroes
Parade comes to an end at Rocky statue
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia’s first Super Bowl parade provided catharsis Thursday for hundreds of thousands of Eagles fans, deliriously joyful after decades without a title and relishing the national spotlight on a team that few outside the city thought could win it all.
Fans clad in Eagles green jammed the streets from dawn near the stadium to an afternoon rally at the city’s famed “Rocky” steps, lining up 20 deep in spots to catch a glimpse of the champs. The Eagles rode in open-top double decker buses to the art museum that Sylvester Stallone made famous for a rally nearly 60 years in the making.
Center Jason Kelce gave voice to every frustrated Philly fan with a remarkable, impassioned and profane speech that had him defending the general manager, the coach and a litany of players who supposedly weren’t smart enough, big enough or talented enough to win a championship.
“We were a bunch of underdogs,” shouted Kelce, channeling Rocky himself. “Bottom line is we wanted it more!”
Until Sunday’s 41-33 victory over the favored New England Patriots, the Eagles remained the only team in their division without a Super Bowl title.
“This Super Bowl championship is for you,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie told the vast crowd. “You are the most passionate and deserving sports fans on the planet. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Added Super Bowl MVP quarterback Nick Foles: “We finally did it. We’re Super Bowl champs!”
The parade began at the Eagles’ stadium complex and slowly made its way up Broad Street past the cheering throngs. Carrying the Lombardi Trophy, coach Doug Pederson walked part of the route — allowing fans to touch the gleaming hardware — while Lurie held a sign saying “THANK YOU FANS” as he stood next to the team’s three quarterbacks: Foles, injured starter Carson Wentz and thirdstringer Nate Sudfeld.
Dan Tarvin, 29, was pumped after getting to high-five Pederson and GM Howie Roseman, who was instrumental in putting together a squad expected to compete for championships for years to come.
Schools, museums, courts, government offices and even the Philadelphia Zoo were shut down so the city could fete an underdog Eagles team that beat the mighty Patriots.
Organizers prepared for as many as 2 million people. City officials didn’t release a crowd estimate.
JACKSON FUNERAL: In Atlanta, funeral services have been arranged for Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson, who was killed Sunday with his Uber driver when authorities say a drunken driver living illegally in the U.S. struck them along a highway.
Jackson’s funeral will be held Monday at Big Bethel AME Church in his hometown of Atlanta.
COLTS: A person with knowledge of the situation confirms to The Associated Press the team has sought permission to interview Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier for their head-coaching vacancy.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Thursday because neither team has revealed this development.
Indy has resumed its coaching search after Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels reneged on an agreement to accept the job by electing to stay to New England on Tuesday.
PETERSON: A judge has ordered former Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson to pay about $600,000 after he defaulted on a loan from a suburban Minneapolis bank.
Crown Bank in Edina sued Peterson in November after he failed to pay the balance of a $2.4 million loan he took out in May 2016.
REVIS: The Kansas City Chiefs cut veteran cornerback Darrelle Revis on Thursday. He had signed a two-year, incentive-laden deal in November.
VIKINGS: Minnesota’s new offensive coordinator is coming to town fresh off a Super Bowl parade.
According to an NFL source, the team is hiring Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, who interviewed with Vikings general manager Rick Spielman and coach Mike Zimmer in Philadelphia after the Eagles’ Super Bowl parade Thursday.