‘We Want Seven!’ Huge Crowds Fete Patriots on Super Bowl Win

‘We Want Seven!’ Huge Crowds Fete Patriots on Super Bowl Win
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots reacts as he holds the Vince Lombardi trophy during the Super Bowl Victory Parade in Boston, Mass., on Feb. 5, 2019. (Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
The Associated Press
2/5/2019
Updated:
2/5/2019

BOSTON—Hundreds of thousands of jubilant fans jammed downtown Boston on Feb. 5 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 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.

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.”

The New England Patriots celebrate after winning the Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The New England Patriots celebrate after winning the Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Fresh from Sunday’s 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta, team members and their families took a 2-mile 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.

Star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has talked about retiring after this latest NFL title, whooped it up with his brothers and father.

At least one brave Rams fan, wearing one of that team’s blue and yellow jerseys, hung out along the parade route.

Fans wait for the New England Patriots parade to through downtown Boston to celebrate their win over the Los Angeles Rams in Sunday's NFL Super Bowl 53 football game in Atlanta, on Feb. 5, 2019. (Steven Senne/AP Photo)
Fans wait for the New England Patriots parade to through downtown Boston to celebrate their win over the Los Angeles Rams in Sunday's NFL Super Bowl 53 football game in Atlanta, on Feb. 5, 2019. (Steven Senne/AP Photo)

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 and dazzling sunshine.

Security was tight, and Mayor Marty Walsh warned fans not to throw anything. Errant beer cans slightly damaged the Red Sox World Series trophy last year.

Fans gather near Boston City Hall to watch the New England Patriots football team victory parade through the streets of Boston to celebrate their win over the Los Angeles Rams for their sixth NFL Super Bowl championship on Feb. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Fans gather near Boston City Hall to watch the New England Patriots football team victory parade through the streets of Boston to celebrate their win over the Los Angeles Rams for their sixth NFL Super Bowl championship on Feb. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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 6-year-old son, Raiyu.

The trio has been to all six Patriots victory parades.

“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.”

By Philip Marcelo