Darren Sproles Shares Underdog Message at Fan Fest 2023 [VIDEO]

Author Colin Newby

August 29th, 2023 7:42 AM

Lane Johnson stood about a foot taller than him in the huddle. Jason Peters outweighed him by about 150 pounds. Darren Sproles never really looked like an NFL running back, but his speed suggested otherwise.

Sproles became a fan favorite during a 15-year career that included six seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2014-2019. It was no surprise when a rowdy crowd of Philadelphia sports fans at Xfinity Live for Fan Fest 2023 cheered the former 5-foot-6 sparkplug running back thunderously.

Sproles at Fan Fest 2023

Sproles spoke on the 97.5 The Fanatic stage with Lisa Kerney of FanDuel. He shared a story about Lane Johnson buying him a pair of toddler-sized football cleats as part of a prank while the two were teammates with the Eagles.

He even looked back on an interesting ride from the NovaCare Complex to his home in New Jersey. It included an unexpected stop at a youth football practice. The local kids didn’t recognize him at first, but they were excited to see an NFL star when he stopped a second time a few days later.

Darren Sproles, An Underdog Speed Back

The San Diego Chargers selected Sproles in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Kansas State. He played five seasons for the Chargers and three for the New Orleans Saints before making his Philadelphia debut at age 31.

The aggressive style of an undersized back always resonated with a fan base that can’t help but glorify the underdog. He earned his only three career Pro Bowl bids in Philadelphia. It was appropriate that he chose the City of Brotherly Love as the place to share a fearless message that summed up his career.

“With my career, they told me that I wouldn’t make it a year in the NFL, and I actually made 15 of them. So, to all my short folks, we made it.” -Darren Sproles

When he stopped to sign autographs on his way off the stage, he made sure to find one fan wearing a #43 Kansas State Wildcats jersey. The interaction gave the crowd one more indicator of his pride as an unlikely success story. 

97.5 The Fanatic Fan Fest 2023 In Photos

• Fan Fest 2023

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  97.5 The Fanatic was thrilled to throw the 10th Fan Fest. The set-up at Xfinity Live was the biggest yet.

• Fans Waiting to Enter

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  The line to get inside the event gates wrapped around the outdoor fencing and up towards Broad Street. An estimated 10,000 people attended Fan Fest.

• Fan Fest 2023

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  97.5 The Fanatic listeners entered through the FanDuel gate. Some looked as fired up as Brian Dawkins coming out of the tunnel at the Linc.

• Philadelphia Eagles Fans

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  The city is pumped for another shot at a Super Bowl. Masses of fans showed up in Birds gear, whether it was the Kelly Green or the Midnight Green.

• Franklin

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  Franklin of the Philadelphia 76ers showed up for the team's flagship station. The Sixers had a court set up in the parking lot at Xfinity Live.

• Philadelphia Sports Fans

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  Philly fans like to represent their teams. They showed up wearing some of the best gear you'll ever see.

• FanDuel Fields

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  The FanDuel set-up included interactive games and spectacor events.

• The Scene at Xfinity Live

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  The parking lots at Xfinity Live featured interactive games, sponsored tents, prizes, and photo opportunities. The Lombardi Trophy and a life-sized Brian Dawkins bobblehead made it on quite a few Instagram accounts.

• Let’s Go Flyers!

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  Anthony Gargano introduced Scott Hartnell and Keith Jones. The city of Philadelphia misses playoff hockey, and they showed it with a loud "Let's Go Flyers!" chant.

• Gritty

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  It's never a party until Gritty shows up. The notorious Flyers mascot stole some of the attention from Hartnell and Jones.

• Lou Williams

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  Matt Cord delivered in his signature style to announce one of the most beloved 76ers of the 21st century. Lou Williams is the NBA's all-time leader in points scored off the bench.

• Paul Reed

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  We found out how "B-Ball Paul" started: a simple grade school nickname that stuck into Reed's career in the NBA.

• Darren Sproles

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  Sproles spoke admirably about overcoming adversity as an undersized NFL running back who had to silence critics over a 15-year career. He made his only three career Pro Bowls as a member of the Eagles.

• Brian Dawkins

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  He was the emotional leader of the Philadelphia Eagles who played every game like it was his last. Very few athletes in any city command as much respect as Brian Dawkins in Philadelphia.

• Brian Dawkins

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  Dawkins joked that his biceps are a result of extra time to workout in retirement. He looks like he could still take out a wide receiver today if he put on the pads.

• Nick Foles at Fan Fest 2023

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  Nick Foles discussed his appreciation for the Philadelphia fans and the outlook for the 2023 Eagles. He even played along with a question about a possible comeback to the NFL.

• Nick Foles

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  Any crowd in Philadelphia melts at the sight of Nick Foles. As always, there were some chants complimenting his manhood.

• Fall Out Boy

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  The FanDuel stage featured the musical headliner at 4pm to cap off the event. Fans could barely move through a packed crowd at the outdoor show.

• The Crowd Inside Xfinity Live

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  Xfinity Live was packed early. The crowd enjoyed a few cold drinks and the best party 97.5 The Fanatic has ever thrown.

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Author Colin Newby

Category:

• PA Local
• Eagles // NFL

Tags:

Darren Sproles,Philadelphia Eagles,running backs