It’s been five years since Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing, and on his death anniversary, his beloved Eagles delivered a gift he would’ve cherished. The Philadelphia Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl, ready to face off against the Chiefs. While Eagles fans bask in the glory, Washington Commanders co-owner Magic Johnson had a tough night as his team crashed out of the playoffs.

Back in 2017, Kobe showed just how deep his Eagles fandom ran with a now-iconic reaction to their Super Bowl victory. With baby Bianka Bella in his arms, he watched nervously as Tom Brady’s desperate final pass hit the turf. “Oh my god, we won the Super Bowl!” he whisper-yelled, mindful of little Bianka.

That win wasn’t just historic for Philadelphia; it was personal for Kobe. The Eagles had brought home their first Super Bowl title, and the emotion was overwhelming for the Philly native. Later he explained his reaction: “The spirit of the Eagle took over me and I just couldn’t contain myself, but I had to because I was holding on to a 1-year-old.”

If he were here today, how proud and ecstatic would he be to see his team soar again?

For Magic Johnson, however, the Eagles’ victory came at his expense. The Philly franchise crushed his Commanders 55-23 in the NFC Championship. It was their first shot at a title game since 1991, but the Eagles proved too strong, leaving Johnson and his team in heartbreak at Lincoln Financial Field.

Taking to X, Johnson shared his thoughts: “I hate losing so I’m mad that my Commanders lost, but congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles for advancing to the Super Bowl. My Commanders hurt our chances of winning the game today with 3 fumbles and too many penalties… The @Commanders are back!” 

But what was the story of the game?

Magic Johnson’s Commanders fall short against Kobe’s Eagles

Unfortunately for Magic Johnson, his Super Bowl dreams were cut short by the Kobe Bryant’s Eagles, who are now soaring to face the AFC champions. The Commanders couldn’t overcome their mistakes, with four costly turnovers and a barrage of nine penalties sealing their fate. And Johnson also expressed it in his post.

Adding to the heartbreak, Commanders’ stars Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, and Dyami Brown all fumbled under Philadelphia’s relentless defense. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels gave a valiant effort, throwing for 255 yards, rushing for 48, and scoring two touchdowns. But even his impressive performance couldn’t offset the Eagles’ dominance. Philly’s offense exploded for 459 total yards, averaging a jaw-dropping 7.0 yards per play.

It seemed like the Eagles channeled Kobe’s famous “Mamba Mentality” throughout the game. Jalen Hurts delivered his best playoff performance yet, completing 20 of 28 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown while adding three rushing touchdowns. Saquon Barkley was equally unstoppable, piling up 118 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries. Together, they looked unstoppable—a true homage to Kobe’s never-quit spirit.

Now, all eyes are on the Super Bowl. Can the Eagles finish the job and honor Kobe Bryant with another title? Only time will tell, but for Philly fans, the dream is still alive.