By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Perhaps the most famous non-celebrity Philadelphia Eagles fan, @TheMighthyErock, said in a Super Bowl hype video "this is for every fan that is sick of hearing about Santa Claus." Well, be sick no more, Philadelphia, you now have something even the national media will be more interested in than a nearly half century old slander – a Lombardi Trophy.
Sunday, February 4, 2018 Nick Foles, Doug Pederson and perhaps the most unlikely cast of characters one could have imagined, led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl title. They did it after losing, one of the greatest punt returners in NFL history in Darren Sproles, special teams ace Chris Maragos, future Hall of Fame left tackle Jason Peters, game-changing inside linebacker Jordan Hicks and quarterback Carson Wentz, who for much of the season was the MVP favorite. The Eagles did this despite being underdogs in all three of their playoff games, two of which were played at Lincoln Financial Field after a 13-3 record allowed them to clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs. And to top it all off, the Eagles defeated the greatest dynasty in the history of the sport, the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady New England Patriots, in an instant classic Super Bowl.
Forget this being the most memorable playoff run in team (and maybe city) history, this is one of the most memorable playoff runs in NFL history. Even if this is the first of a few Eagles Super Bowl runs – something that feels like a distinct possibility – there's nothing quite like the first. Nothing, not another Super Bowl title, nor any sort of put-down, Santa-based or otherwise, will be more associated with Eagles football than the underdog, dog-mask wearing, Super Bowl champion Eagles.
Of course, one of the most magical parts about the Eagles winning their first Super Bowl title is that for the first time in the lives of many, Eagles fans can exhale. They can smile, never again will the Eagles have zero rings.
Even beyond the individual jubilation that this title will leave Philadelphia with, it will leave many fans with a sense of satisfaction for loved ones that didn't get to see this moment.
"I saw my first Super Bowl with my dad when I was in high school. He died in 1988, long before the second Super Bowl appearance," said Dave Keck, who had been an Eagles season ticket holder since 1994. "I thought about him all day and how I wish he were here to have shared this season. I hope he watched with Reggie [White] and Jerome [Brown], while I watched with my son.
Those that watched the Eagles at Franklin Field and Veterans Stadium didn't deserve this moment any less, time just didn't break their way. But the legacy of those fans, including the late Frank Olivo (a.k.a. Santa Claus), will live through those that they introduced to the team. Because their children and grandchildren aren't worried about Santa Claus tonight, they are worried about enjoying the greatest night of their lives.
