Let's begin with a thought. For a moment, imagine a seasoned relief pitcher. Him, finally clinching the World Series with the Yankees after years in the minors. Sure, the pinstripes bring prestige, a legacy carved deep like initials in an old oak. But what if...
What if that same pitcher later finds pure, unfiltered joy delivering a championship to a long-suffering city like Cleveland? That raw, emotional payoff? That’s the territory Chris Long ventured into. The two-time Super Bowl champ peeled back layers on his remarkable journey, leaving breadcrumbs about where true fulfillment lies.
On the "Exciting Mics" podcast with Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship, Long faced a simple, loaded question: Patriots or Eagles ring? His answer cut deep.
Describing his 2016 Patriots win, Long painted a picture of immense relief. "It was like I can go out now however I want," he admitted. New England was a finely tuned machine, demanding conformity. "You're walking into a building where just everybody knows, right down to the parade route, how to do this thing."
He played his role perfectly, a vital cog, yet something felt... distant. The confetti fell, but the feeling was liberation, not pure elation. "This is like a tradition, right? Like you come to New England, anything less than that [Super Bowl] is a disappointment for the Tom Brady-led Patriots," Long admitted. But the contrast was coming.
Long's Philly Revelation
Then came Philadelphia. Long sought authenticity after leaving the Patriots machine. ***"I wanted to finish playing on my terms,"***he declared. Watching the Eagles' fierce defensive line on tape before Super Bowl LI sparked a fire.
"Man, I want to play with those," he recalled thinking. He craved the ***"hit it and get it and create havoc"***style of Jim Schwartz's defense, reminiscent of his dominant Rams days. Landing in Philly, Long found more than he bargained for.
The underdog story, Carson Wentz's injury, and the improbable playoff run—it was cinematic. ***"We were picked to be probably bottom third of the league,"***he noted. Yet, magic happened. That NFC Championship Game vibe?
Unforgettable. "I looked around, I’m like, it doesn’t [ __ ] matter who we play. Tonight. Tonight, it doesn’t matter who we play." The result? A three-word verdict echoing through Eagles history... "Philly was sweeter," Long admitted without any qualms. Why?
Pure emotion. ***"After the Philly Super Bowl, I cried like a baby, man. Because it just—it was everything that I ever could have wanted. It was like a movie,"***Long added.
The Long Legacy Endures in Philly
Long's impact transcended his crucial on-field plays. Just like the strip-sack against the Rams or the NFC Championship hit on Case Keenum. His spirit became part of the Eagles' DNA. His iconic faux fur coat from the 2018 parade wasn't just a fashion statement.
It symbolized Philly's unbridled joy. Fast forward to February 2025. After the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX victory over the Chiefs, edge rusher Josh Sweat sought permission. "I just hit him up. I was gonna hit him up two years ago when we lost but I got another chance," Sweat said.
"I got a text last night at like midnight, 'Let me get that coat Friday,'" Long confirmed on his podcast. Wearing Long's coat, Sweat embodied the lineage. "I can feel aura," he told Dave Spadaro. ***"It was entrusted to me by one of the greatest."***Long, watching proudly, saw his Philly connection alive in the next generation's triumph.
The Eagles' identity, partly forged by warriors like Long, persists. In May, the NFL owners voted against banning the "Tush Push," Philadelphia's signature, brutally effective short-yardage play. Critics groaned.
Long, ever the Philly advocate, responded perfectly online: ***"For everyone crying"***—posting a jab featuring A.J. Brown and tissues.
The Eagles' unique blend of power and precision, reminiscent of the havoc Long loved, remains league-approved. Long’s choice resonates because it wasn't just about rings; it was about soul, community, and finding pure football joy where passion burns brightest. As he savored the Philly magic, Long captured a universal truth.
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The hardest-fought victories often taste the sweetest. Or as the great novelist John Irving once wrote, "You only grow by coming to the end of something and by beginning something else." Chris Long found his true beginning in Philadelphia.