feature-image
feature-image

The FOX crew’s recent visit to the Rocky statue has finally caught the attention of the man behind the legendary Rocky franchise! Recently, Terry Bradshaw, Michael Strahan, Rob Gronkowski, Jay Glazer, Howie Long, Curt Menefee, and Jimmy Johnson from the FOX team filmed themselves at the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. They were recreating Rocky’s triumphant pose. None less than legendary actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone, took to his IG account to pay tribute to the crew!

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

Taking to his handle, @officialslystallone, he posted the clip with the caption, “The Great Fox Team! Thank you, Jay Glazer!” The video that is doing rounds on the internet features the FOX crew as they pay homage to the Rocky Balboa statue in Philadelphia. And, it was prior to the NFC Championship Game scheduled between the Eagles and the Commanders.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

They posed raising their arms, presumably with Eye of the Tiger playing in the background. While Rob Gronkowski also made the signature “Gronk Spike” on the museum steps. Even Michael Strahan added flair by dressing in a gray tracksuit to channel Rocky’s spirit.

ADVERTISEMENT


ADVERTISEMENT

Commanders, “Yo, Adrian, HTTC”

ADVERTISEMENT

Eagles

However, the FOX team visited the iconic statue, steering clear of any superstitions, to celebrate Rocky’s legacy. Even Stallone’s words, which he shared back in 2023 during the 47th ‘Rocky Day’ resonate with what the statue reminds us, “Standing at the top of these steps, you are reminded that all things are possible. Keep punching!” He asked the fans to “live your life on your own terms…and… the real victory is in never giving up,” as highlighted in a Whyy article from December 2023.

ADVERTISEMENT

Eagles claim victory after Terry Bradshaw visits (in)famous Rocky statue

As a part of pre-game rituals, the Eagles dress the Rocky Statue in the gear of the opposing team. Whether related or unrelated, it has worked on various occasions. The 2017 NFC Championship, Super Bowl LII, 2022 Divisional Round, and even the 2022 NFC Championship. As they continued with the tradition, many fans supported it as light hearted banter. Others condemned the act, calling it disrespectful to dress the statue in rival gear.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

However, just hours after the rival gear was removed, the Eagles claimed the NFC Championship. A 55-23 victory saw them set a record for scoring the most points in an NFC Championship Game. With this, they are poised to make their fifth Super Bowl appearance in a bid for their second Lombardi triumph.

So, will we see the Rocky statue draped in Chiefs colors next? Will it work its magic this time?

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Shivangi Agrawal

1,745 Articles

Shivangi Agrawal is a Senior NFL Writer at EssentiallySports. She focuses on uncovering NFL stories that resonate with fans, particularly during game-day coverage. Shivangi blends traditional football analysis with entertainment angles and off-season narratives, delivering engaging, journalistically grounded content that goes beyond the field. With eight years of experience in journalism, she has contributed to articles, features, and audience-focused reporting, combining strong storytelling skills with a deep understanding of the NFL and its broader culture.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Shreyas Pai

ADVERTISEMENT