Valentine’s Day is all about love for someone special in your life. For Philadelphia, more than a million people gathered along Broad Street and in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum to celebrate something special to them: The Philadelphia Eagles second Super Bowl parade.
Long before the start of the Super Bowl parade, Philadelphia’s streets were flooded with people proudly wearing their green Eagles merchandise. People were dancing, playing football, or tailgating. The smell of hot dogs, beer, and cigarettes was accompanied by loud music that echoed through the city.
The flags that line Benjamin Franklin Parkway in front of the Art Museum were replaced with Vince Lombardi Eagles flags. Several huge TV screens showed the replay of the Eagles’ legendary Super Bowl LIX win to entertain the crowd as they waited.
Every spot close to the streets was taken. Some fans even climbed on top of trees to have a better view of their Eagles superstars.
At around 11 a.m. the parade kicked off at South Philadelphia’s NRG Sports Complex. Several buses carried the Eagles players, and coaching staff over Broad Street and Center City to the Art Museum.
The biggest crowd gathered at the legendary Rocky Steps. It was the exact same spot where Jason Kelce held his legendary Super Bowl speech seven years ago.
Instead of a colorfully dressed Jason Kelce, however, it was Jalen Hurts’ and Saquon Barkley’s turn to deliver their speeches.
Hurts took the stage in style, like always. The 26-year-old Super Bowl MVP wore a beret, a black hoodie and smoked a cigar.
The Eagles quarterback thanked the fans, his coach, his teammates and the Eagles’s phenomenal defense. “You know, I told myself when I got drafted that I wouldn’t come to the Rocky Steps until I won a championship, and now we are here,” Hurts said. His speech ended in loud MVP, and Eagles chants.
However, during the speeches, a shooting took place near City Hall. A 27-year-old and a 20-year-old woman were shot in the calf and thigh. The shooter has been identified as 28-year-old Brandon Ramos. He is currently in custody according to CBS News. The victims are in stable condition.
While navigating the crowds and the chaos surrounding the parade was a difficult task for Philadelphians and those who traveled here to celebrate the Eagles, it was still a day to remember.