Party Up!

NEW ORLEANS — Walking off the postgame podium and through the corridor toward the winning locker room, deep within the confines of the Caesars Superdome, an animated Jordan Davis emphatically delivered a message.

“It didn’t have to be close!” the Eagles’ defensive tackle shouted Sunday night as he trotted past the media waiting for locker room entry.

“Best in the motherf–kin’ world!” added fellow defensive tackle Milton Williams as he strolled past moments later.

“It’s real! It’s real!” shouted cornerback Isaiah Rodgers to defensive tackle Thomas Booker as they beelined toward the music that grew louder with each step.

By the time every player had made their way in, the Eagles’ official postgame victory song, “Blow the Whistle” by rapper Too Short, began pulsing through the sealed locker room doors.

The party was officially underway following a 40-22 blowout of the Chiefs.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Eagles players and staff party in the locker room after their 40-22 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

Upon entry, the aroma of premium cigars and clouds of smoke filled the air. The scene inside depicted a close-knit team in collective celebration.

The initial scrum, off to left, featured a host of players, such as apparent ringleader defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, cornerback Darius Slay, tight end Grant Calcaterra, tackle Fred Johnson, long snapper Rick Lovato, cornerback Avonte Maddox, safety Tristin McCollum, tight end E.J. Jenkins and a number of assistant coaches, to name a few.

Howie Roseman, the team’s executive vice president of football operations and architect of the franchise’s second Super Bowl title, would soon join, wiggling his way through the fray.

Players, such as running back Saquon Barkley, were shotgunning beers.

There were plenty of lighthearted moments, such as fullback Khari Blasingame placing a dope-rope Super LIX necklace around the neck of Jenkins, who had a bottle of Armand de Brignac in hand and a cigar in the other as team owner Jeffrey Lurie looked on.

Nolan Smith, one of the more animated players, wasn’t shy of spraying the champagne on anyone within close proximity.

Training partners and position mates Gardner-Johnson and Andre’ Sam – whom Gardner-Johnson views as a little brother – at one point were hoisted up near the middle of a different scrum, rapping along with the words blaring through the sound system, bottles of champagne in hands.

Rodgers, a pending free-agent, walked down a row of lockers, shaking the hands of every teammate he came across.

”Needed that!” he said.

The Penn State crew – running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver Jahan Dotson – posed together for a photo.

A.J. Brown, with now-famous motivational book  “Inner Excellence” in hand, sat inside a locker doing a postgame interview amid the spirited chaos.

Somewhere in the scrum emerged wide receiver/punt returner Britain Covey, who’d been bouncing around and singing along with teammates, his trusty Oakley goggles around his neck.

Rookie defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean posed for photos with the Lombardi Trophy. Mitchell, if only for a moment, sat inside his locker stall, seemingly trying to process what had taken place an hour earlier.

Senior advisor to the general manager and chief security officer Dom DiSandro roamed the locker room with an Italian flag draped over his shoulders.

Even veteran cornerback James Bradberry, who didn’t play a single snap all season, innocuously stood perched inside a locker stall before making the rounds, Oakley goggles strapped across his eyes and phone in hand, savoring the moment.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Eagles EDGE Brandon Graham (left) FaceTimes with Jason Peters as Jalen Hurts looks on.

The soundtrack of the celebration featured a heavy dose of rappers Kendrick Lamar and Future, with teammates mouthing their every word through their phone screens. Kendrick Lamar hits, like “Not Like Us” and “Mustard,” specifically, were crowd pleasers.

Chief Keef’s “Faneto” and “Earned It” also made the playlist.

In perhaps the final game of his career, defensive end Brandon Graham, who logged 13 snaps in Super Bowl LIX, moved through the crowd, soaking in perhaps his final experience as a player.

His pads and soaked jersey remained attached while he trudged through the locker room FaceTiming former Eagles left tackle Jason Peters. Graham would also share a moment or two with quarterback and Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts, almost as if to reflect on the moment – and career, in Graham’s case – that was.

Then there was Hurts, who eventually made his way into the winning locker room, making a quick left for his stall.

After opening a box for a cigar, Hurts searched for a lighter and was eventually given one by a team official.

He lit up the premier cigar and took several puffs before Roseman made his way over, hugging his franchise quarterback. He made his way through the locker room, dapping up teammates and showing his gratitude.

The MVP had joined the party.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.