‘Nobody likes our fans’ – Jason Kelce steals show with emotional Super Bowl parade speech after Eagles made history

The City of Brotherly Love has a lot to celebrate on Valentine’s Day.

After waiting 52 years for a Super Bowl triumph, the Philadelphia Eagles franchise and its much-maligned fanbase have two in the last seven years.

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Both triumphs came at the expense of established dynasties — in the shape of Tom Brady’s legendary New England Patriots juggernaut and Patrick Mahomes’ three-peat-chasing Kansas City Chiefs.

Just like its iconic son Rocky Balboa, the city of Philadelphia and its football team are renowned for an underdog mentality and never-say-die spirit.

And nothing sums up that spirit better than Eagles icon Jason Kelce’s rousing speech on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where Sylvester Stallone’s rags-to-riches boxer is immortalized with a statue.

Jason played 13 seasons in Philadelphia but had split loyalties last weekend as brother Travis looked to make history for the Chiefs.

But he will be attending again on Friday, celebrating in the city he now calls home.

“I love this city and I love this freaking team,” he said on 94WIP radio.

Ahead of the festivities, let’s take a look at Kelce’s now-infamous performance in 2018 as fans hope for a repeat.

The retired center had already stolen the show before he opened his mouth thanks to his incredible outfit.

Jason paid tribute to The Mummers Parade — a Philadelphia tradition and the longest-running folk parade in the United States.

Taking place on New Year’s Day, Mummers Museum president Rusty Martz says “any man, woman or child involved in the fantasy of song, dance and costume splendor” is a Mummer.

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The costumes trace their roots back to 17th century plays in Great Britain and Ireland and Kelce’s incredible purple and green design featuring huge shoulder pads and a turban was glorious.

His speech began by getting the crowd engaged with some cries of ‘Can I get a hell yeah?

He then ran through the ways in which every member of the franchise from general manager Howie Roseman and ‘the least qualified head coach in the NFL’ Doug Pederson to his teammates had been doubted.

Receivers who ‘can’t catch’, All-Pro centers who were ‘too small,’ over-the-hill running backs and overlooked quarterbacks — the Eagles had taken flak from all corners.

“It’s the whole team,” cried Kelce with his voice creaking. “It’s the whole team! This entire organization was a bunch of men driven to accomplish something. You’re a bunch of underdogs!

“And you know what an underdog is? It’s a hungry dog. And (offensive line coach) Jeff Stoutland has had this in our building for five years. It’s a quote in the O-line room that has stood on the wall for the past five years: ‘Hungry dogs run faster!’

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“And that’s this team. Bottom line is, we wanted it more. All the players, all the coaches, the front office, (owner) Jeffrey Lurie. Everybody wanted it more.

“And that’s why we’re up here today. And that’s why we’re the first team in Eagles history to hold that freakin trophy.

“Know who the biggest underdog is? It’s y’all, Philadelphia! For 52 years y’all have been waiting for this. You want to talk about underdog? You want to talk about a hungry dog? For 52 years, you’ve been starved of this championship.

“Everybody wonders why we’re so mean. Everybody wonders why the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t the nicest fans Well, if I don’t eat breakfast I’m f****** p***** off too.

“No one wanted us. No one liked this team. No analysts liked this team to win the Super Bowl, and nobody likes our fans. To all those people who counted us out, to all everybody who said we couldn’t get it done — what my man Jay Ajayi just said — f*** ’em!”

Kelce finished by leading the crowd in a chant of ‘No one likes us, we don’t care’ — an emphatic ending to a defiant speech.

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“There will never be another parade speech like this,” wrote one fan. “It had everything. All of the years of frustration of the city were encapsulated in this speech. He defended his teammates, laid out all the receipts, and represented the Philadelphia fans perfectly. All while dressed like a mummer. It was accurate, philosophical, passionate, and profane… all at once. Absolute perfection.”

“This speech made jason kelce legendary. It wasn’t the pro bowls it was this speech,” added another.

“He got us. A rare mix of desire, talent, and loyalty. He will always be an Eagle. We all will miss him,” a third wrote.

Pederson’s Eagles had to dig deep to beat Bill Belichick’s Patriots 41-33 with backup quarterback Nick Foles under center.

Seeking revenge for defeat to the Chiefs two years ago, Nick Sirianni’s team tore their opponent limb from limb.

Nobody expected that — nobody outside Philly that is. And that is exactly why the city will always have a giant chip on its shoulder.