The Wait of a Lifetime

It's been 57 years since the Eagles last won an NFL Championship. FIFTY. SEVEN. YEARS. Before the Super Bowl was even a thing. For me names like Concrete Charlie and Norm Van Brocklin are more folk lore than real life. I grew up on the Buddy Ryan Eagles and reveled in the Andy Reid led Eagle teams as we rose to the cream of the crop in the NFL. 

We enjoyed a lot of success under Big Red, but just enough to get our hopes up, only to come crashing down. This is the life of an Eagles fan. There's always next year, right? 

Being an Eagles fan is not something you choose, you are born into it. It's passed down for generations. Your dad is an Eagles fan, his dad was an Eagles fan, your son will most certainly be an Eagles fan, and on it goes. This city doesn't just love it's team, it's a family, we are an extension of the team. Or more aptly put, the team is an extension of us. 

My dad raised us right. I can recall countless nights of him letting me stay up late to watch the Birds on Monday Night Football, and taking me to the Vet on a Sunday afternoon. I still remember the moment he told me that Jereme Brown had died. I cried my little 10 year-old eyes out, and wrote 99 on EVERY piece of Eagles gear I owned. It's generational. It's deep. ​

I have tried to soak in these last two weeks leading up to Super Bowl 52, because I know it doesn't come around that often. It's been 12 years since the Donovan McNabb and Brian Dawkins led Birds played on the big stage. And it was 24 years before that. Anxiously waiting for kickoff, believing that — THIS. IS. OUR. YEAR. It just feels right. 

Every Eagles fan I've talked to is doing the same thing, watching the game with their dad, or brother, or family. This is more than football! We've been waiting a lifetime for this moment. 

This team embodies the city of Philadelphia. It's not about one person. It's the definition of the word team. It's about overcoming adversity, being told you're not good enough, you can't do it. It's about hard work, grit, perseverance, faith, and a lot of fun along the way. It's about being called the underdog on your turf, constantly disrespected and forgotten. 

But you know what we do in Philly when we get knocked down? We get right back up, and we swing even harder. 

So on Sunday night when the whole world is watching you better believe we are swinging for the fences. Matt Stairs into the night, Rocky knocking out Drago, Moses Malone Fo, Fo, Fo, Broad Street Bullies, Brian Dawkins — GIVE ME SOME RESPECT RIGHT NOW!

WE ALL WE GOT, WE ALL WE NEED!

FLY EAGLES FLY!

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