What should have been a night of celebration turned into scenes of chaos as Philadelphia Eagles fans took to the streets in an uncontrolled, alcohol-fueled frenzy following their team’s Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
For the second time in six years, the Birds clinched a championship, but the post-game revelry quickly spiraled into chaos with property damage to cars, and multiple injuries.
Within minutes of the final whistle confirming the Eagles’ 40-22 win, Broad Street descended into chaos.
Throngs of fans flooded the streets, but what started as chants and fireworks soon escalated into reckless vandalism.
Videos captured unruly fans jumping on top of cars, climbing on top of dump trucks, bus shelters and scaling traffic light poles after police decided not to grease the city’s light poles.
Crowds tried to flip a police vehicle at Broad and Chestnut Streets and and outside the city’s Macy’s a group pulled down two sets of traffic lights before smashing them to pieces.
Police were out on foot, motorbikes and on horseback all lined up in front of City Hall in an attempt to deter fans from bad behavior but they were vastly outnumbered – many of them drunk after five hours of football.
The police stood emotionless as some fans tried to taunt them by shaking metal barriers.
People jumped on top of cars with little regard for the damage they were doing on Sunday
Raucous fans climbed on top of a dump truck as celebrations got out of hand in Phildalephia
Some so-called fans climbed on top of city bus shelters and celebrations got out of control
At one point, a group of fans were seen unscrewing a lamppost from the sidewalk and carrying it down the street in an act of wanton vandalism.
Fans also began taking over Frankford and Cottman avenues on Sunday night following The Birds 40-22 win. The team last won the Vince Lombardi trophy in 2018.
Philadelphia City Hall was lit up in the team colors as devoted fans spilled out of nearby bars, wasting no time in turning the city into the ultimate victory party.
The City of Brotherly Love transformed into a sea of green and white as fans began filling up Broad Street in downtown Philly, setting off green fireworks and chugging pints of beer in an Eagles Super Bowl win tradition.
Within minutes of the historic win, Broad Street was packed with jubilant fans chanting and singing ‘Fly Eagles, fly!’ following their unexpected victory.
Some fans climbed light poles, embraced strangers, and danced in the streets, reveling in a victory that had been six years in the making.
The scenes were reminiscent of their 2018 championship celebrations when the Eagles claimed their first-ever Super Bowl title, but this time, it felt even bigger having taken on the Chiefs who had been widely tipped to win for a third consecutive time.
Bars across the city overflowed with revelers, with fans spilling out onto the streets, beers in hand, to toast their team’s triumph.
A number of fans were seen climbing up light poles and traffic lights
A fire was started by fans on 12th & Market as celebrations quickly turned to chaos
A police officer looks at the remains of a fire that was started by fans
Some people unwisely decided to climb up a garbage truck during the out of control street party
Police officers attempted to keep control of the crowds and rode their motorcycles through crowds of fans
Fans appeared oblivious of the danger as they climbed up a dump truck and city bus shelter
Some fans let off fireworks in the middle of the crowd, in the shadow of City Hall
Fans carried a sign celebrating the win down the street
Broad Street was a sea of green and white on Sunday night late into the night
A fire was was started in downtown Philadelphia in the early hours of Monday morning
A fire was set at the corner of 12th & Market just as police were trying to move crowds out
Dozens of police officers were quickly on the scene to deal with the fire and put it out
Philadelphia has something of a reputation for the wild manner city the city celebrates after big Eagles wins.
On occasion they have taken a tragic turn. Following the team’s NFC championship win over the Commanders, 18-year-old Temple University student Tyler Sabapathy died after falling from a light pole.
Two people were also shot during those celebrations, although both survived.
In a message before the game, Philadelphia mayor Mayor Cherelle Parker urged fans to behave responsibly.
‘Please, Philadelphia, I implore you as your mayor: Do not climb light poles or anything else,’ she said.
‘I know this comes up every time we have an outdoor celebration after our Philly teams win, and I get it. But folks, climbing or attempting to climb up a light pole, or a bus shelter, or really any structure for that matter — it can lead to tragedy.’
Philadelphia police commissioner Kevin Bethel also promised to have the city’s police department with ‘all hands on deck’ for the celebrations.
‘We know that there is going to be a lot of celebration when the Eagles win – let that sit for a minute – but we also want you to do it in a responsible way,’ he urged.
Fireworks were blasted off into the night sky following the Eagles win
Eagles fans jumped on top of city garbage trucks to get a view of the celebrations
Fireworks light up next to the Philadelphia Eagles flag as fans celebrate after the Philadelphia Eagles win
A group of fans could be seen on top of a bus shelter as chaos unfolded on the streets
Fans managed to obtain fireworks and lit them from intersections in the middle of the street
One fan compared the amount of fireworks to a Fourth of July celebration
The streets of Philadelphia were buzzing after The Eagles won Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs
Drunken fans clambered on top of parked vehicles in the streets of downtown Philly
Fans packaged the streets around downtown, but not all were well behaved
Fans could be seen sitting on top of a garbage truck in the middle of downtown
Police officers with bicycles stood by as fans gathered to celebrate after Philadelphia’s win
Police officers clashed with fans after the Philadelphia Eagles win
Police are seen dealing with one individual on the ground in downtown Philly
Police officers speak with fans out on the streets of downtown Philadelphia as they celebrate
Police officers were seen wearing riot gear at one point as the celebrations got out of control
Revelers were out celebrating into the small hours of Monday morning.
‘I brought him out here just to see all the Philly love,’ said Marquis to the Philadelphia Inquirer who brought her seven-year-old son out to show him the celebrations.
Marquis said she was ‘absolutely gutted’ to miss the victory parade as a new mom in 2018 but was determined not to miss out this time around.
‘We live’ for the Eagles, said Marquis. ‘Win or lose, we would still be out here celebrating that we even made it this far.’
Another mother, Elisa Cora, was also out with her three-year-old daughter and 10-month-old baby who was sound asleep.
‘This is their first Super Bowl victory. I wanted them to know how fun their city is,’ Cora said.
‘Even though we lost last time, we always come back, baby,’ she said.
Police slowly moved crowds out of the downtown area by 1am on Monday morning
Police made their way through the crowds on police motorbikes
Officers on motorbikes managed to carve a path through fans who were celebrating
Thousands of fans went out onto the street following Sunday night’s win
The streets were closed off in South Philadelphia to allow fans to celebrate in the road
Fireworks could be seen being set off int he middle of the street on Sunday night after the game
Some fans climbed on bus shelters or scaled light poles
It was a scene of green and white as fans spilled out of bars and restaurants
Police eventually began to push the crowds out of downtown urging them to go home at 1am
Police officers are seen in their vehicles in formation as they attempted to clear the downtown area just before 2am on Monday morning
Some fans lit fireworks as they celebrated their team’s win
Philadelphia Eagles fans go wild during Super Bowl LIX as they beat the Kansas City Chiefs
Philadelphia Eagles fans in a bar off Broad Street following Sunday night’s win
City Hall was bathed in green lighting following the historic win
Fans could be heard chanting ‘fly Eagles, fly!’ following their win
It was a sea of green and and white as fans flooded the streets of downtown Philadelphia
Police attempted to keep order on the streets with a line of police cars
Broad Street was completely packed as fans filled all the available space
Fans react as the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs, in Philadelphia
Thousands of fans gathered to watch at Xfinity Live! Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles fans embrace at the watch party for NFL football’s Super Bowl 59 game
Philadelphia Eagles fans react to the Eagles touchdown at a watch party for Sunday’s game
In South Philly, fans set off fireworks in the middle of intersections, illuminating the sky with bursts of green and white.
Cars honked their horns in unison as strangers hugged and high-fived in the streets in the bitter February cold.
The crowds began to clear just after 1am as police slowly pushed crowds out of the downtown area.
With the Super Bowl win secured, fans are already gearing up for the massive victory parade expected to flood the streets later this week, likely to be held on Friday.
City officials anticipate millions will gather to honor the team, with Broad Street once again serving as the epicenter of Eagles euphoria.