Jalen Hurts has been a resident of Philadelphia for some time, but the Eagles quarterback recently made his first visit to one of the city’s most famous landmarks on Friday.

The iconic steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art gained fame when Sylvester Stallone ran up them in the movie Rocky. Since then, countless visitors have imitated the fictional boxer’s triumphant pose at the summit. Although Rocky faced defeat against Apollo Creed in the film, these steps have transformed into a symbol for Philadelphia’s champions. During the Eagles’ parade on Friday, Hurts shared with the cheering crowd that he withheld this visit until he could call himself a champion.

Hurts achieved that championship status in New Orleans last Sunday, emphasizing that the title exemplified resilience. After facing setbacks while benched at Alabama and later making a comeback at Oklahoma, Hurts, alongside the Eagles, endured a challenging conclusion to the 2023 season. He articulated that the essential lesson has been to persist through adversity.

“I told myself when I got drafted, I wouldn’t visit the Rocky steps until I secured a championship,” Hurts recounted, as per NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com. “And now, we’re here. I know this year has challenged this team; we’ve had to fight through adversity and withstand a lot of scrutiny and opinions. But one thing about this city is its unwavering fighting spirit. Success isn’t based on approval; it’s cultivated through endurance and strength. You can’t lose if you refuse to quit. In Philadelphia, we never quit. Thank you. Our next journey begins. Go Birds.”

The stark contrast between the end of the 2023 season and the conclusion of the 2024 season illustrates how rapidly fortunes can shift within the NFL. The trajectory of the Eagles post-Super Bowl LII tells a similar tale in reverse, and the 2025 team will aim to avoid experiencing a downturn.