Philadelphia Eagles: Check out ‘Rocky’ posing with the Lombardi Trophy

One of Philadelphia’s favorite sons is a fictional character, and the man that played him just so happened to make his way by the Novacare Complex to flick it up with the Lombardi Trophy.

Perhaps it was NFL Films that said it best. Prior to the Philadelphia Eagles‘ march through the most recent NFL Playoffs, the greatest underdog story in the history of ‘The City of Brotherly Love’ was a work of fiction. Rocky Balboa wouldn’t have been the same character if he had been from anywhere else in the country.

Philly watched over and over in film after film as ‘The Italian Stallion’ reached deep inside himself and found ways to perform past his skill level, topple foes that he had no business beating and win at the highest level in the sport he competed in.

Wait. This is supposed to be a fictional story right? Why, then, does it sound so familiar?

The citizens of Philadelphia have had a long love affair with Rocky Balboa.

Philadelphia loves the Rocky Balboa character so much that they built him a statue. The theme from the ‘Rocky’ movies can be heard blaring from the speakers prior to each Eagles game. Philly even invited Sylvester Stallone to fire up the crowd prior to their first-ever game in Lincoln Financial Field.

They lost that game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the same team that handed them a loss in their final game at Veterans Stadium, but that’s beside the point. Hang in there. We’re going somewhere.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Rocky Balboa share a uniquely similar history.

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Philadelphia and the Eagles love Rocky. Who didn’t think of Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art when the Eagles walked down those same steps to Meek Mill’s Dreams and Nightmares? It was the final stop of a long-awaited victory parade.

Prior to that, how many times have you heard jokes about Philly’s love for a fictional character?

Yes, NFL Films was right. Prior to the Eagles victory in Super Bowl LII, a victory that gave the franchise their first Lombardi Trophy in team history, ‘The City of Brotherly Love’ would have to admit that their greatest underdog tale was a work of fiction. That isn’t the case anymore.

Just ask anyone who watched the Eagles’ playoff run. For the first time in NFL history, a number-one seed was the underdog in every playoff game they appeared in.

On April 18th, Sylvester Stallone, the man who played Rocky, stopped by the Novacare Complex to flick it up with the Lombardi. He’s in town filming the sequel to the critically acclaimed Creed.

Take a look:

That just has to make you smile whether you’re an Eagles fan or not. What more needs to be said?