Nakobe Dean is intrigued. Cooper DeJean? He’s doubtful—though he might still dress for the occasion. And Zack Baun? Well, he’s mostly thinking about how much alcohol is going to be consumed.
Seven years after Jason Kelce took center stage in a Mummer’s outfit and delivered one of the most legendary speeches in Philadelphia history, the Eagles find themselves in a familiar position. A championship parade is on the horizon, and with it, the question looms: Who’s going to grab the mic this time?
It’s a daunting prospect. Back in 2018, Kelce’s impassioned speech wasn’t just iconic—it was transformative. It cemented him as a legend, not just in the Eagles’ locker room but in the city itself. The players who were on that team already know what that moment meant. The ones who weren’t? They’ve still heard about it. It’s practically folklore now.
The idea of replicating that speech? Dangerous territory, as Jordan Mailata puts it. As one of the more articulate guys on the team—his Australian accent giving him an extra layer of charisma—he could easily step up to the podium. But he knows better than to force a moment like that.
“That’s the thing,” Mailata explained. “I don’t think it’s about trying to replicate that Kelce speech. That stuff has got to come from the heart. I don’t think any one of us is going to try to walk down those same footsteps. That was the first Super Bowl. Now, it’s the second. It’s different.”
So, what’s a 2024 Eagle supposed to do?
Mailata doesn’t have an answer. “I don’t know,” he said. “If I speak, I speak. I haven’t made up my mind. I don’t know if I will. Maybe liquid courage will help me.”
If that’s the case, he won’t be alone. Ask around the Eagles’ locker room, and the consensus is that alcohol will be playing a key role in whatever speeches are made. Mekhi Becton, for instance, was asked if he still stood by his claim that Friday would be the most drunk he’s ever been. He responded without words—just by holding up an unopened bottle of Don Julio 1942.
Zack Baun might be in the same boat. The linebacker, who had a breakout season and now heads into free agency with a fat new contract likely waiting for him, has all the energy needed to take command of a stage. But he’s not making any promises just yet.
“It depends on how intoxicated I am at the time,” Baun admitted. “I don’t think that I’ll be nervous, it’s just that ... I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Baun might get some backup from Nakobe Dean. Even though he missed the Super Bowl due to injury, he was still a vocal leader in the locker room. He even gave a speech to the team before the big game. That’s why this time, at the parade, things could play out differently.
Back in college, when his Georgia Bulldogs won the national championship in 2021, he didn’t get the chance to speak at the parade. “They had that all planned out ahead of time,” Dean said, referring to Georgia’s structured approach. “They didn’t ask me if I wanted to speak.”
This time? It’s up to him. The Eagles have made it clear—any player who wants the mic can have it.
“We’ll see,” Dean said with a grin. “We’ll see. If I’m convicted enough, I’ll get up there and say something.”
Judging by the glint in his eye, there’s a good chance he’ll find that conviction when the moment comes.
There’s an unspoken pressure that comes with a moment like this. It’s not just about getting up there and talking—it’s about making it count. Lane Johnson, the veteran right tackle, said head coach Nick Sirianni has kept the message simple: Be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you’re not.
“I’m not sure who is speaking tomorrow,” Johnson said, “but there will be a lot of unique personalities on the mic. Hopefully, we bring something of substance and meaning to the community. Nothing will ever take back Kelce’s speech, but hopefully, somebody will provide some good stuff.”
That’s the thing about Kelce’s speech. It wasn’t just the outfit or the raw energy that made it great—it was the content. The pacing, the structure, the way he wove in humor and emotion. His list of grievances, the call-outs, the shoutouts—everything about it was masterful. It wasn’t just heartfelt; it was expertly crafted.
That’s why the Eagles aren’t trying to top it. They know they can’t. Instead, they’re just going to enjoy the moment.
Take Cooper DeJean, for example. The rookie cornerback made history in the Super Bowl with a game-changing interception return for a touchdown. He had one of the defining moments of the game. But when asked about speaking at the parade, he shrugged it off.
“I’m not a big public speaker,” DeJean admitted. “I’ll just sit back and have a few drinks and enjoy the show.”
Though, he did leave the door open for one possibility—a statement outfit.
“I don’t have anything planned,” he said, “but you never know what can happen in the next few hours.”
And that’s really what makes this all so exciting. The unpredictability of it. The spontaneity. The energy of an entire city coming together to celebrate a championship, fueled by beer, nostalgia, and the hope that maybe—just maybe—somebody will say something that will live on forever.
So, who’s going to step up? Will it be Dean? Baun? Mailata? Or someone else entirely?
At this point, nobody knows. But one thing’s for sure—when that mic is open, anything can happen.
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