By Michael Thomas Leibrandt
Philadelphia has done some amazing things over the past nearly 345 years. The city — the oldest planned metropolis on the continent — was a thriving center of both politics and global commerce in the 18th century, known around the world, signed the document of American freedom at our State House, served as America’s first capital, and even gave the world Kobe Bryant, Will Smith, Grace Kelly, Bradley Cooper, and Kevin Hart.
But even in a city as important as ours, there are some jinxes and superstitions. One of our earliest superstitions came with a gift from the very nation that the colonies would secede from almost two decades later.
The Liberty Bell, cast in 1751 at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in England in order to commemorate William Penn’s 1701 Charter of Privileges, has a few legends about its relationship to American freedom. In fact, it’s not precisely known when that infamous crack actually occurred. It’s long been rumored that it happened on a test ring in 1752, during Chief Justice John Marshall’s funeral in 1835, when the French Revolutionary War veteran the Marquis de Lafayette saw it in 1824, or even when it was rung in 1846 to commemorate President George Washington’s birthday.
But perhaps the most legendary story around the Liberty Bell involves an old man who vigorously rang the bell at the Philadelphia State House in July of 1776 in celebration of the Declaration of Independence. According to legend, he was so inspired by the news of American freedom that he rang the bell in the State House tower a bit too hard, creating the well-known crack.
Curse of Billy Penn and Rocky's magic
Back in 1987, just one year before we welcomed our last FIFA World Cup match in Philadelphia, One Liberty Place was constructed as a Center City skyscraper building taller than good ole’ Billy Penn. The result was no hide nor hair of a championship in Philly for another 21 years.
And although we frequently place a hometown jersey on the William Penn statue above City Hall when our Philly teams reach the postseason, placing an opposing jersey on the Rocky statue is just another way of helping to ensure a Philly sports team victory.
Back in the cold, late January of 2018, a Minnesota Vikings jersey was placed on the Rocky statue before the NFC Championship Game. The result? The Eagles trounced the Vikings in the NFC Championship to advance to Super Bowl LII. Two weeks later, Rocky was wearing a Patriots jersey and the Eagles would win their first Super Bowl ever and first championship in 57 years by a final score of 41-33 over New England.
In pure Philadelphia fashion, the city kept using Rocky to full effect. Rocky was a 49ers fan during the NFC Championship Game of 2023, a Commanders fan in January of 2025, and a Chiefs fan two weeks later. Each time, the Eagles were victorious.
Coincidence or curse-breaker?
In 2017, during the construction of the Comcast Tower in Center City, a mini Billy Penn was placed on the highest beam. Beginning the very next year and for the next decade to come, Philadelphia would see three Eagles Super Bowl appearances in seven years—two of them with championships.
Britain’s gift from across the Atlantic did end up making history. It soared above the State House in 1776 when the colonies declared independence from Britain. And the 2026 World Cup in Philly? Fans of Ecuador did indeed place a jersey on Rocky. The next day, the Ivory Coast won 1-0 at Lincoln Financial Field.
MORE: Philadelphia landmarks offer window into nation's founding
Keywords
Philadelphia, Philadelphia at 250, America 250, Semiquincentennial, Philadelphia History, Philadelphia Folklore, Liberty Bell, Curse of Billy Penn, William Penn, Rocky Statue, FIFA World Cup, Eagles, Philadelphia Sports, Sports Superstitions, Lincoln Financial Field, Old City, Philadelphia Traditions