Eagles' Cooper DeJean makes feelings known about Super Bowl parade

Philadelphia Eagles rookie Cooper DeJean shared his thoughts about surviving the team's championship parade celebration.

The 22-year-old cornerback turned Super Bowl LIX hero with a pick-6 against Patrick Mahomes. His defensive touchdown helped power Philadelphia to a 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

"Hopefully, I can still walk around by the end of it," DeJean said before the parade.

DeJean later told Fox that the magnitude of the celebration took him by surprise.

"I mean I knew it was going to be crazy, not this crazy though. I'm just having a blast though ... it'd never get old," he said.

The parade route stretched from South Philadelphia to the Art Museum steps, made famous by the "Rocky" movies, as per AP reporter Maryclaire Dale. City officials prepared for more than one million fans to line the streets when the celebrations began at 11 a.m. ET.

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On Friday, the rookie cornerback joined Eagles stars Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley atop open-air buses. Barkley even hopped off to exchange high-fives with fans who had camped overnight along the route.

Philadelphia's celebration prompted increased security measures. Police lined the parade route while dump trucks blocked side streets. Mayor Cherelle Parker stressed safety, urging fans not to climb light poles.

The warning carried extra weight after a college student's fatal fall during NFC championship celebrations weeks earlier. A shooting at last year's Kansas City Super Bowl parade added to safety concerns.

Veteran players prepared their rookie teammates for Philadelphia's legendary parade atmosphere. Lane Johnson, who experienced the 2018 celebration, recalled Doug Pederson's famous one-handed beer catch.

Some Eagles embraced unique preparation methods. Linebacker Zack Baun studied YouTube footage of the 2018 parade. Guard Mekhi Becton promised it would be the "drunkest he'll ever be in his life."

Fans roasted pigs marked with Mahomes' No. 15. Eagles flags flew from trees and buildings across the city.

Center Cam Jurgens summed up the situation:

"I can't wait to see how much it really changes people's lives here."

MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts and owner Jeffrey Lurie kicked off the festivities by hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, Philadelphia's second in franchise history.