They call Philadelphia the City of Brotherly Love, but Eagles fans weren’t looking out for each other on Sunday night, when they trashed the city celebrating their Super Bowl win.
On Monday, Philadelphians heading into work took to social media, sharing hundreds of pictures of the aftermath of Sunday night’s Super Bowl celebrations.
From a collapsed awning outside the Ritz-Carlton hotel, which smashed under the weight of nearly a dozen people, to the countless traffic lights ripped to the ground, the damage showed what a mess ‘Birds’ fans can make.
While many of the overzealous fans were sleeping off hangovers, the city’s workers got down to business cleaning up after their mess – boarding up shattered shop windows and sweeping up glass.
Cops who would usually be patrolling the streets were mitigated to directing traffic as municipal workers righted and repaired traffic lights.
Workers now have just three days to clean the city up before it hosts its Super Bowl celebration parade on Thursday.
Philadelphia looked like a war zone on Monday morning, after Eagles fans trashed the city celebrating their first ever Super Bowl victory
Workers are seen above cleaning up shattered glass outside of a store that was damaged in the rioting
Th Macy’s in the city center had to have its windows boarded up after the rioters came through and smashed them during the impromptu party Sunday night
Another look at some of the shattered glass at the Macy’s in downtown Philadelphia
The city is getting ready to host their Super Bowl victors with a parade on Thursday
Yet another shop window shattered in downtown Philadelphia Sunday night
The violent celebrations led many on social media to claim there’s a double standard for how the mostly white protesters were treated by the police, compared to the black protesters in recent demonstrations over racial inequality.
‘Last night’s events in the streets of Philadelphia further underscored the racial problem we have in this country. If you’re white and your football team wins you can destroy your city, but if you’re black and cops killed your borther you’re called a criminal if you protest,’ Twitter user Jason Pollock wrote.
‘Reminder: If these men were black and protesting racial inequality and police brutality the National Guard would be shooting rubber bullets and tear gas at these people and Philadelphia would be in a state of emergency,’ another user wrote, referencing a video of fans toppling a Prius.
Many on social media questioned how the rioters would be treated if they were black and marching for racial inequality, instead of white and celebrating a football victory
On Monday, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney released a statement, saying ‘only three’ people were arrested in the celebrations.
‘Tens of thousands came out and celebrated this amazing victory last night, and but for a handful of bad actors the celebration was peaceful and jubilant. there were only three arrests. We’re thankful for our PPD for their assistance in getting the crowds dispersed and people home safely,’ the statement read.
That’s a sea change to the last time one of the city’s teams won a national championship.
When the Phillies won the World series in 2008, the street celebrations devolved into looting and vandalism and nearly 80 people were arrested.
Eagles fans mounted traffic poles in the celebrations, bringing many to the ground
Cops had to direct traffic through a large part of the city on Monday due to the downed traffic poles
Eagles fans also toppled newspaper boxes according to this picture
These large planters, which no doubt weight hundreds of pounds, were also overturned by the revelers
The Philadelphia Police Department released a statement saying that there had been multiple injuries during the celebrations but no fatalities.
‘We have had several acts of vandalism where windows have been smashed, and some injuries have been reported around light poles that have been pulled down,’ the statement read. ‘We have one report of looting at a gas station. There have been no fatalities.’
It’s estimated that thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate the win, but the revelry quickly turned violent and hoardes of police officers were called in to control the crowds.
Passionate supporters lit fires, flipped at least one car, smashed shop windows and clambered up traffic poles after their team defeated the New England Patriots 41-33 in Minneapolis.
At one point a hotel awning at the city’s Ritz-Carlton collapsed under the weight of fans while the windows at the Macy’s near City Hall and a T-Mobile were smashed as celebrations got out of hand.
Above, another look at some of the downed traffic poles in downtown Philadelphia on Monday
Police, some on horseback, had earlier been called in as huge crowds descended on the streets. One fan was later seen eating horse excrement left behind by the police officers on horseback, as jubilant crowds cheered him on.
Local television station CBS3 reported that two poles in Center City had been toppled, leaving one person seriously injured.
Police had greased lamp posts and traffic light poles across the city with slippery hydraulic fluid earlier in the day in a bid to discourage climbers.
Before the games, officers who declined to give their names, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that about 100 poles up and down Broad Street were greased to deter revelers from climbing them.
They dubbed themselves the ‘Pole Patrol’ rather than the earlier ‘Crisco Cops’ that applied shortening that failed to stop some fans after the NFC championship victory.
Police officers stand guard next to a traffic light while celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LII game against the New England Patriots on February 4, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fans celebrate in Center City after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl on February 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fans sit down by a broken traffic light after a night of wild celebrations through the streets of Philadelphia in the wake of Eagles’ sensational victory
A planter is seen tipped over after jubilant fans went on the rampage through parts of the city following the momentous win
Carnage: Poles were ripped down, windows broken and fires lit as supporters poured on to the streets of Philadelphia
A police officer stands beside a destroyed Macy’s storefront window smashed by celebrating fans after the Philadelphia Superbowl LII victory over the New England Patriots in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
A man looks at a destroyed Macy’s storefront window smashed by celebrating fans after the Philadelphia Superbowl LII victory over the New England Patriots in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania U.S. on Sunday
Thousands of police officers had been deployed in anticipation, but although initial celebrations captured on television appeared good-natured, the preparations didn’t prevent scenes of chaos chronicled on social media
Beer cans and liquor bottles lay on the ground after fans celebrated the Philadelphia Superbowl LII victory over the New England Patriots in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania U.S. February 5, 2018
But it looks like their greasing failed yet again, since numerous poles were brought down anyway – some by fans with armed with rope.
‘F**k that grease,’ some of the fans reportedly chanted as the daredevils climbed.
Many fans were seen chugging beers as they got to the top.
Climbers were also seen scaling the City Hall gates – while police moved in after a group vandalized a gas station.
In South Philadelphia, fans started chanting ‘Free Bud Light,’ after the beer manufacturer made a bet with Lane Johnson that if the Eagles won the Super Bowl, they’d give free beer to the city, according to CBS Philly.
The streets of the city were also filled with Eagles fans chanting ‘F**k Tom Brady’ in reference to the Patriots quarterback and ‘Big d**k Nick’ in honor of Philly quarterback Nick Foles.
A group of Eagles fans climbed on top of the awning at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, causing it to cave
Fans pass a destroyed hotel canopy in Center City after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl on February 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Eagles fans took to the streets to celebrate the team’s victory over the New England Patriots and to rejoice in the Eagles’ first ever Super Bowl championship
A fan celebrates in Center City by climbing a light pole on Broad Street despite them having been greased earlier to prevent such antics
Passionate supporters lit fires (pictured), clambered on top of trucks and up traffic poles after their team defeated the New England Patriots 41-33 in dramatic fashion at US Bank Field in Minneapolis
‘F**k that grease,’ the fans reportedly chanted as the daredevils climbed the light poles in downtown Philadelphia
Destruction seemed to follow fans wherever they went. Fans also took to lighting up scraps of metal in the streets on fire.
However, more concerning than the small bonfires were the trust falls that sprung up around the city.
A video made the rounds on social media a man perched atop a Ritz-Carlton hotel awning falling into the crowd from a height, trusting he would be caught.
In another video, fans scaled the same awning of the Ritz-Carlton hotel only to have it collapse under them due to their combined weight.
A fan jumped down from the awning of the Ritz-Carlton hotel trusting that others would catch him
A video made the rounds on social media of a man perched atop a Ritz-Carlton hotel awning and falling into the crowd from a height, trusting he would be caught (left and right)
In a city of 1.5 million, it seemed as if there were 1.5 million revelers as thousands poured into the streets
Eagles fans piled onto the top of sanitation trucks in their celebration with one truck having ‘F**K TOM BRADY’ spray-painted on the side
Fans daubed offensive messages on a truck as they caused mayhem in the city on Sunday night following the Super Bowl win
Philadephia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles (pictured) celebrates after winning Super Bowl LII and being named Super Bowl MVP
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf attended U.S. Bank Field in Minneapolis to witness the Eagles’ historic victory.
‘What you give is what you get back. Congratulations on your historic win, @Eagles. We are all incredibly #PAproud. #SuperBowl #FlyEaglesFly,’ Wolf tweeted after the game.
President Donald Trump took the opportunity to congratulate the Eagles on the win despite his friendship with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and owner Robert Kraft.
‘Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles on a great Super Bowl victory!’ he wrote.
Mayor Kenney declared in a statement that it was a day the city has ‘dreamed of’.
‘For so many who have called themselves Eagles fans for a generation, this is the day, the game, the season, and the team we’ve dreamed of,’ he said in part.
‘The 2017-18 Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl Champions, and they’ve brought tremendous joy to hundreds of thousands throughout the City and region. They consistently wowed us with their dynamic play and relentless pursuit of victory.
‘Their ‘Next Man Up’ mentality when injuries arose was inspiring to anyone who has ever faced a setback, as was their willingness to embrace the role of underdogs. They looked another storied football franchise in the eyes, and never blinked.’
The vile clip was posted online as wild celebrations threatened to spiral out of control in the city in the wake of the Eagles’ dramatic victory over the Patriots
Police clash with fans celebrating the Philadelphia Superbowl LII victory over the New England Patriots in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday
Police clash with fans celebrating the Philadelphia Superbowl LII victory over the New England Patriots in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday
Fans celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LII game against the New England Patriots on February 5, 2018 in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles fans climb a gate outside City Hall as fans celebrate the team’s victory in the NFL Super Bowl on Sunday
A fans reacts to Super Bowl LII by climbing a trash truck on Walnut Street near City Hall on February 4, 2018 in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
People break a traffic light while celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LII game against the New England Patriots on February 4, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Police response: Police with riot shields stood on guard as wild celebrations threatened to spiral out of control in Philidelphia
A man carries a traffic signal as Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrate victory in Super Bowl LII game against the New England Patriots on February 4, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
A group of male fans were seen carrying a broken pole down the street as fans celebrated victory over the Patriots on Sunday
Two fans embrace on the street as wild celebrations broke out at the end of the titanic Super Bowl victory on Sunday
A Philadelphia Eagles fan celebrates the team’s victory in the NFL Super Bowl LII
A man climbs a traffic pole as Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrate victory in Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots
Keeping the peace: Police officers were called in as huge crowds descended on the streets amid scenes of jubilation in Philadelphia
A Philadelphia Eagles fan marches with a cone on his head in downtown Philadelphia as fans celebrate the team’s victory in the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game between the Eagles and the New England Patriots, in downtown Philadelphia Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018
Members of the Philadelphia Police celebrate in Center City after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl on February 4, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
An Eagles fans high-fives a police officer as others react to Super Bowl LII on Walnut Street near City Hall on February 4, 2018 in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the favored New England Patriots winning their first Super Bowl championship 41-33
Eagles fans react to Super Bowl LII on Broad Street near City Hall on February 4, 2018 in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the favored New England Patriots winning their first Super Bowl championship 41-33
Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrate the team’s victory in NFL Super Bowl 52 between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018, in downtown Philadelphia
Julia Kauterman, right, and Michael Banes of Berlin, N.J. kiss on Broad Street as Philadelphia fans celebrate the team’s victory in the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game between the Eagles and the New England Patriots, in downtown Philadelphia Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018