After defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, the Philadelphia Eagles have been on a high for the past week and a half. The Eagles celebrated with a huge parade in Philadelphia after defeating the back-to-back reigning Super Bowl champions 40–22. One offensive lineman chose to wear no shirt during the entire parade, despite the fact that several players took full advantage of their time. After the team’s most recent championship, the offensive lineman, who may have had a few drinks along the road, became a folk hero in a single afternoon.
The man front and center of the parade photograph is none other than Nick Gates, who as fans pointed out, was having the time of his life. “Nick Gates will be remembered forever in Philadelphia for two things: 1) Negating Will Shipley’s epic first rushing TD of his NFL career with a holding penalty 2) Going shirtless for the Super Bowl LIX victory parade,” one Eagles writer pointed out. Unfortunately for Gates, his run with the Eagles came to an end on
Tuesday afternoon. “The Eagles released offensive lineman Nick Gates on Tuesday,” the team said in a statement. “Gates was signed by the Eagles during Training Camp as a veteran insurance option with 41 career regular-season and playoff starts across four of the five starting offensive line positions before arriving in Philadelphia.”
Gates entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie out of Nebraska before eventually became a captain for the New York Giants before suffered a devastating lower leg injury in 2021. He went on to sign with the Washington Commanders before joining the Eagles ahead of the 2024 season.
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