Jalen Hurts toasts Philly fans at Super Bowl parade: ‘I know about this city, one thing we do, we fight

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles have returned home and celebrated the second Super Bowl championship in franchise history Friday.

Five days after the Eagles’ 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, fans lined the streets for Friday’s victory parade, celebrating with the team along the parade route on the way to the stage set at the famous “Rocky” steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

South Philly is prepared to parade. pic.twitter.com/wkY92wECBr

— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) February 14, 2025

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, was the first of Philadelphia’s players to address the crowd from the stage, and was met with cheers of “MVP” as he approached the podium lifting the Lombardi Trophy.

“On behalf of my teammates and myself, we want to thank you,” Hurts said to the crowd. “Thank you for all of your support this year. All the passion. Every ounce of it.”

Philadelphia’s star quarterback thanked his teammates, the Eagles’ team leadership and the fans. Hurts then paused to more “MVP” cheers before continuing.

“You know I told myself that when I got drafted that I wouldn’t come to the Rocky steps until I won a championship,” he said. “And now we’re here.

“I know this year this team has had to battle through so much. This team has had to fight. This team has had to persevere. And there’s been a ton of scrutiny, a ton of opinions, a ton of all of that. But I know about this city, one thing we do, we fight. We fight. And you go through the course of these things and you learn that success isn’t built off of approval. It’s built off of endurance. It’s built off of strength. You can’t lose if you don’t quit. And in Philly we don’t quit. So, thank you. The next pursuit begins. Go Birds.”

They’ve got the game on. pic.twitter.com/RXdtS3XECK

— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) February 14, 2025

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker spoke, as did Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who declared the Eagles to be “America’s Team.”

“You hear that, Dallas?” he said.

There was an incident that marred the occasion — two women were shot and taken to the hospital. Both victims were listed in stable condition and no arrests have been made. Philadelphia police asked that anyone with information on the incident to contact them.

Meanwhile, in addition to Hurts, several more Eagles players also addressed the crowd, including running back Saquon Barkley, who set the NFL’s single-season record for combined rushing yards in the Super Bowl win.

A.J. Brown, Philadelphia’s leading receiver this season, also thanked the Eagles’ fans before adding at the end of his speech: “They said I was a diva. They said all I cared about was stats. You going to get all those things wrong about me, but there’s one thing you can get right: I’m a f— champion!”

Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata at one point during the celebration led the crowed in singing “We Are The Champions.”

Jordan Mailata led the crowd in singing We Are The Champions pic.twitter.com/DIBBAXReBC

— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) February 14, 2025

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman also spoke.

“I bleed for this city! Go Eagles! Our players, our staff have done an unbelievable job,” Roseman said. “We are two-time world champs and we’re coming back strong. Go Birds!”

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni recalled how the Eagles achieved their Super Bowl championship.

“I told these guys in December, we had three out of the last four at home, and we were practicing outside every day, practicing at the stadium every other couple days,” he said, “and I said, ‘Hey — to go the Super Bowl and to win that Super Bowl, we’re going to have to go out in Lincoln Financial in front of the best fans in the world and win some games.’ And we did exactly that.”

The Eagles ended the regular season at 14-3, winning 12 of their final 13 games in the regular season on the way to the NFC East title. Philadelphia then added victories over the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round, Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round and Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game, all at Lincoln Financial Field, before Sunday’s Super Bowl victory.

“This team is special,” Sirianni said as he concluded his speech. “And we can’t be great without the greatness of others, and that certainly applies to our fans, so thank you all for all of your support. And one more time this season, E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!”