A Parade on Valentine's Day For a Team We Fell in Love With

Photo: Philadelphia Eagles

What a night! What a season! What a team! Super Bowl Sunday is a day we will never forget. Honestly, I don't think it's fully sunk in yet. At least for me. Maybe it's the same for you. That really was OUR Eagles that totally dismantled a dynasty in the Kansas City Chiefs. We all watched it, yet somehow it still seems like a dream. As Mike Quick said at the end of Super Bowl LII, "If this is a dream, don't wake me up". 

 But it must be real, because I went to Rally House last night and saw Eagles Super Bowl LIX Champions T-shirts. I saw people climbing poles in Mayfair. And this morning there was an announcement that the parade would be held on Friday. Mother Nature got in the way of the parade scheduling, with a forecast of snow, and then a wintry mix later in the week. So the parade will be on Valentine's Day, which is fitting. This team made us fall in love with them, and in many ways made us fall in love with the game of football all over again. 

 How could you not love this team? This team and it's head coach, epitomize Philly. Overcoming obstacles...a free fall last season and a bad start to this season. A Head Coach that people, including me, wanted fired as recently as week 6 of this season. By the way, please see my previous article, "Hey Nick, We Owe You An Apology", because most of us were SO wrong about him. I'll be at the front of that line...after I water and fertilize my plants. 

 Then you had one of the team's leaders and one of the most popular Eagles of all-time, Brandon Graham, seemingly out for the season with a torn triceps. But BG said if the Birds got to the Super Bowl, he may be able to come back. Sure enough, there he was on the field Sunday night. He had said all along this would be his final season. Once he got injured, we all thought he may come back for one more year. Then he came back and played on the biggest stage. I would hate to see BG leave, but what a way to go out. 

 Talk about overcoming obstacles, how about the quarterback? His obstacles in college have been well documented. But even as a pro it hasn't always been easy. He gets drafted by the Eagles in the second round, to a resounding, "WHATTTT?????" I don't know anyone who liked the pick. After all, we had Carson Wentz. Kudos to Howie Roseman, because Jalen Hurts is a Super Bowl MVP and Wentz is Patrick Mahomes' backup. 

 And that defense. I could not believe what I was watching Sunday night. The Birds' D made one of the best quarterbacks of all-time and one of the best head coaches of all-time, look downright ordinary. Vic Fangio is the real deal. I am old enough to remember those great Buddy Ryan defenses, with Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, Jerome Brown, Eric Allen, Wes Hopkins, Andre Waters, and many others. The "Gang Green" defense made those late 80's teams fun. But here's the difference...THEY never won anything. And as great as they were, they don't compare to this group. This group is special. This team is special. Being an Eagles fan right now is special. 

 So as you spend Valentine's Day with the one you love, you'll also get to watch the team you love take their victory lap through the city. The City of Brotherly Love. It all seems so fitting. Happy Valentine's Day. Can't wait til next season.