PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Eagles victory parade kicked off at 11 a.m. from Lincoln Financial Field, but time is relative for Birds fans. Flocks of them descended along the parade route Thursday afternoon or before dawn on Friday to get the best view.
Some went straight to the Art Museum, where the Birds presented their victory speeches a little after 2 p.m. Others got a seat — BYO lawn chairs, of course — near Broad Street and Pattison Avenue for the first look of the procession.
For parade recaps and updates on the commute home, listen here.
3:30 p.m.
Hopefully, you packed your patience. Speeches concluded at the Art Museum a little after 3 p.m., and streets quickly flooded with thousands of fans trying to make their way out of Center City — many of them attempting to hop on SEPTA.
As of 4:30 p.m., lines wrapped around all running Regional Rail stations, including 30th Street. The anticipated wait was a few hours. Lines moved quickly, though, and most people were inside by the time the sun set.
There have also been reported backups on the Schuylkill Expressway. For live travel updates, listen here or tune in to 103.9 FM.
2 p.m.
The Eagles arrived at the Art Museum around 2 p.m. They concluded the celebration with some speeches from coach Nick Sirianni, quarterback Jalen Hurts, and even Gov. Josh Shapiro.
"I told myself that when I got drafted, I wouldn't come to the Rocky Steps until I won a championship. And now we here," Hurts said. "I know this year, this team has had to battle through so much, has had to fight, but I know about this city, one thing we do, we fight, and you go through the course of these things and you learn success isn’t built off approval, its built off endurance, its built off strength.”
Sirianni echoed that sentiment, and thanked the fans, saying you can't be great without the greatness of fans.
“Being an Eagles fan, I know how people love to hate us, they love to root against us, but something I noticed is that all the sudden people were coming together to cheer on our Philadelphia Eagles, not just here in Philly, but all across America,” Shapiro said. “It would seem that the Philadelphia Eagles are now America’s team. You hear that, Dallas? The Eagles are now America’s team.”
And, of course, offensive tackle Jordan Mailata celebrated the championship by singing Queen’s “We Are the Champions,” encouraging fans to join in.
1:30 p.m.
The bus drove down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and arrived at the Art Museum.
Unfortunately for Howie Roseman though, the GM was reportedly mildly injured after he was hit in the forehead by a beer can, according to police scanner. During his speech at the Art Museum steps, he poked fun at the incident, saying he "bleeds for this city."
12:30 p.m.
The parade made its way down the Avenue of the Arts about an hour and a half after departing the Linc. Confetti and glitter rained down from the windows of high-rises and into the crowd of thousands.
Jalen Hurts and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie stood at the head of the bus smoking cigars.
11 a.m.
Buses of Eagles players, coaches and staff left Lincoln Financial Field ahead of schedule. Swooning fans screamed and cheered as MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie took turns hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Hurts donned a sweatshirt that read "Love, Hurts."
As confetti fell from the sky, some players, including Saquon Barkley, actually got off the bus to high-five fans.
Fans climbed whatever they could to get the best view — light poles, bus shelters, entire storefronts.
One group perched in front of the Art Museum roasted a pig with the number “15” carved into the side — a final shot at Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
4 a.m.
Nadeem, of Northeast Philly, arrived at the Sports Complex around 4 a.m. — same as he did for the 2018 parade.
“Front-row seats and right where it starts too, so for me it’s perfect. First ones to see it — when it passes, we can be the first ones out,” he laughed. “Better to be here early and have our spot. … Once I post up, I am not moving.”
Lisa Sanders got to the front of the Art Museum at 1:30 on Thursday afternoon.
“I’m looking forward to seeing them pull up so I can scream and let them know how much we love them,” she said. “We really needed this.”
Michelle Majewski, of South Jersey, got to the Linc around 5 a.m. with her family — heated camping chairs, gloves and coats in tow.
“Wouldn’t miss this,” she said. “We’re all family here today.”
Mark doesn’t mind the chill on parade day. “I suffered for 40 years without getting one, so now I’m back out here for our second celebration in the last seven years. We had a long drought before we actually got one. Now I have back-to-back within a decade. You got to come out and support the team.”
“We couldn’t wait,” added Tom Gibbons, of Gibbstown, New Jersey. He had a Super Bowl-winning shirt made before the Eagles even beat the Chiefs. Actually, he ordered it halfway through the NFC championship game.
“There was no stopping ’em,” he said.
🎧 Reflecting on the Eagles
In 2018, Jason Kelce became an instant icon with his epic parade speech and Mummers costume. Who will stand out at the 2025 celebration? Kelce explains what makes a great victory speech:
Merrill Reese, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Voice of the Eagles, revisits the Eagles' exceptional victory over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX:
On the day of the parade, KYW Newsradio’s Dave Uram shares an impassioned message to Philadelphia, its fans and those who make the Eagles special:
The Associated Press contributed to this report.