Philadelphia celebrates Super Bowl win with emotional rally, parade
PHILADELPHIA (WTXF/AP) - Philadelphia's first Super Bowl parade ended in an emotional rally as hundreds of thousands of partying Eagles fans jammed the streets leading to the city's famed "Rocky" steps to revel in an NFL title many thought would never come.
Fans clad in Eagles green lined up 20 deep in spots to catch a glimpse of the champs, who rode in open-top, double decker buses before taking to the art museum steps that Sylvester Stallone made famous for a rally nearly 60 years in the making.
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"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 players got into the Philly spirit. Center Jason Kelce walked the parade route in an outlandishly sequined Mummers getup -- a nod to Philadelphia's raucous annual parade on New Year's Day -- slapping fans' hands and leading them in a profane chant broadcast on live TV. Defensive end Chris Long wore a full-length, fake fur coat atop an Allen Iverson 76ers jersey.
Coach Doug Pederson carried the Lombardi Trophy past the cheering throngs, while Lurie held a sign saying "THANK YOU FANS" while standing next to the team's three quarterbacks: Foles, injured starter Carson Wentz and third-stringer Nate Sudfeld.
Thousands of fans braved below freezing temperatures early this morning to begin lining up along Broad Street and around the Art Museum.
Families bundled up in all their Eagles gear and blankets made their way from all over the area with some happily walking several miles through the bitter cold to their destinations.
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