BOSTON (WHDH) - BOSTON (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of jubilant fans jammed downtown Boston on Tuesday for a parade celebrating the New England Patriots’ sixth Super Bowl title, clamoring for more with cheers of “We want seven!” and “Next year, right here!”
A party atmosphere enveloped the city as fans clad in team garb packed sidewalks in the mild weather and stood on tiptoe for a glimpse of quarterback Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick and the rest of the team. Red, white and blue confetti rained down.
Josh McDaniels and Bill Belichick riding together with one of the team's six Super Bowl trophies. LIVE coverage: https://t.co/EOeRhHeM0S #7News pic.twitter.com/LGqusMmebz
— 7News Boston WHDH (@7News) February 5, 2019
It’s a familiar feeling in Boston. The parade came just four months after the city feted the Red Sox for their fourth World Series championship in 15 years.
“Getting to see Tom Brady again is always a special day, but the Patriots are amazing. Six-time champs,” fan Lauren Mills said, adding that she still hasn’t had her fill. Her message to Brady: “Go for No. 7. He still has how many fingers left? You know, four more rings to go.”
Fresh from Sunday’s 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl in Atlanta, team members and their families took a 2-mile (3-kilometer) swing through the city aboard Boston’s iconic World War II-era amphibious “duck boats.”
Brady held his pigtailed daughter, Vivian, and they waved and grinned at the crowd as players and team owner Robert Kraft took turns holding aloft the Lombardi Trophy. Belichick and his partner, Linda Holliday, beamed, and the storied coach doffed his cap.
Tom Brady shows off the hands and snags a roll of toilet paper out of the air https://t.co/EOeRhHeM0S #7News pic.twitter.com/XCAxUPkkGJ
— 7News Boston WHDH (@7News) February 5, 2019
Hey Tom, remind us — how many titles is that again? pic.twitter.com/5hj8EDa8dZ
— 7News Boston WHDH (@7News) February 5, 2019
Star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has talked about retiring after this latest NFL title, whooped it up with his brothers and father. He and several other players removed their shirts and spent the second half of the parade cavorting bare-chested.
They waved large signs that read, “We Got Everything” — a twist on the Patriots’ motivational hashtag, “Everything We Got,” that had become a theme this season.
At least one brave Rams fan, wearing one of that team’s blue and yellow jerseys, hung out along the parade route.
Officials expected more than 1 million attendees, and early trains and subways were jammed, overwhelming the Boston area’s transit system with what officials said was record ridership. The weather was unseasonably warm, with temperatures above 50 degrees (10 degrees Celsius) and dazzling sunshine.
Rob Gronkowski has changed into a Boston police vest! https://t.co/EOeRhHeM0S #7News pic.twitter.com/OsYi3l8E1x
— 7News Boston WHDH (@7News) February 5, 2019
Patriots star Rob Gronkowski partying with his teammates, firing up fans along parade route: https://t.co/EOeRhHeM0S #7News pic.twitter.com/nH1QY3vmgF
— 7News Boston WHDH (@7News) February 5, 2019
Security was tight, and police took away several fans who appeared intoxicated, including one man on a stretcher.
Mayor Marty Walsh warned fans not to throw anything. Errant beer cans slightly damaged the Red Sox World Series trophy last year.
Unlike in past years, no post-parade rally with speeches was planned. Officials didn’t elaborate on why.
Stephen Chhom, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was along the parade route overlooking the Statehouse with his friend Ricky Sok and Sok’s son, Raiyu.
“What made this year special were all the other fans doubting us,” Chhom said, wearing a Julian Edelman jersey. “The record speaks for itself. Tom Brady and the rest of the team prove themselves every single time.”
Here’s a look at some additional parade highlights:
Patriots center David Andrews rubbing shoulders with Bud Light 'Dilly Dilly' King! https://t.co/EOeRhHeM0S #7News pic.twitter.com/Av5Bc5LR6W
— 7News Boston WHDH (@7News) February 5, 2019
PARTY TIME! The Patriots Super Bowl championship parade is rolling: https://t.co/EOeRhHeM0S #7News pic.twitter.com/3P0gWcZuN4
— 7News Boston WHDH (@7News) February 5, 2019
It's safe to say that Gronk and the boys 'came to get down.' https://t.co/EOeRhHeM0S #7News pic.twitter.com/S5KEvv47a7
— 7News Boston WHDH (@7News) February 5, 2019
David Andrews is soaking up the sun on this balmy February afternoon https://t.co/EOeRhHeM0S #7News pic.twitter.com/24itzlcdzw
— 7News Boston WHDH (@7News) February 5, 2019
Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman proudly shows off Lombardi Trophy to thousands of screaming fans: https://t.co/EOeRhHeM0S #7News pic.twitter.com/s52lKhDwnU
— 7News Boston WHDH (@7News) February 5, 2019
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