Loud. Reckless. Annoying. Out of pocket. This is the reputation Eagles fans have garnered over time, with fans of other football teams feeling as if Philadelphians just go too far. Police officers have to grease polls in hopes of stopping drunkards in kelly green from climbing them, trash litters the street after Broad Street celebrations, and if you don’t reciprocate their chant of “GO BIRDS,” you might find yourself faced with an angry confrontation.
Other football fans get passionate too, but Eagles fans are known to be extremely dedicated to their team, so much so that people in other cities shun the Eagles entirely. Yet, many praise the closeness of the team members, noting that as a unit they seem more like a family than co-workers. So why is Philly different? What about the unruly team diverges from the predictable path that football has followed for over a century?
In 1933 the Eagles joined the NFL, one of ten teams active in the league at that time. Although they were one of the oldest teams, the Eagles lost many championships, year after year. After the Super Bowl was introduced in 1967, the losses hurt even more, especially with speculations of cheating following their Super Bowl losses in 1981 and 2005. These losses shook the city year after year, leading to a buildup of hope that continued to be crushed. Yet, in 2018 everything came into fruition.
The 52nd Super Bowl gave the Eagles their first big win. The Eagles beat the Patriots, the same team they had lost to during their last Super Bowl appearance in 2005. Nick Foles, the backup quarterback, led them to victory after Carson Wentz’s injury early in the season. The Eagles had been viewed as the underdogs and were predicted to lose by almost every sports news outlet, but they beat the odds. This win changed Philadelphia’s view in the eyes of the country.
Broad Street erupted that night; horns were honking every minute and fireworks erupted from the tops of polls. Eagles fans were always seen as irritating and over the top, but that night marked an important turning point: the celebration was finally justified. Since then, those who support the team have been louder than ever, and after every game won, the city explodes.
“It’s not about the ring for us, I like the community we got here, I like repping my city and my team, the players get the ring, we get the pride,” said a 46 year old lifetime resident of the city. Not everyone in the city is a fan, but those who are find a community with each other, excitedly cheering with each win and crying together with each loss.
Football in Philadelphia isn’t just a sport, it is a support system, a way to bond, and a way for families to come together. It brings strangers together and creates spaces where people can just enjoy the moment and watch the game. Bars become hubs of celebration, car horns typically used by angry drivers are repurposed for celebration, and Center City is filled with smiles.
“That’s my team, that’s my dad’s team, that’s my grandfather’s team. I don’t even watch them games, but I know how happy it makes my family, so I love them anyway, they good and that’s it,” said a student at the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. Even those who aren’t into football feel the impact and importance of the games, knowing that even if it isn’t for them, it means everything in the lives of others.
Fueled by the fans, the team members thrive in Philadelphia. Saquon Barkley, one of the star players on the Eagles this year, played for the New York Giants team for six seasons. Although he played well for the Giants, even those from New York admit that he has played better for the Eagles than he ever did elsewhere. His speed and sheer determination was one of the key factors in bringing the Eagles to victory, and his passion for the team during his first year shows a future lifetime of commitment.
Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ star quarterback, is almost the opposite, drafted by the Eagles in 2020 and having that star potential from the beginning, all eyes have been on him. Yet, instead of being traded, his talents were honed in Philadelphia and he has stayed consistent since the beginning. His love for the team and the city is apparent in every interview and every interaction with fans.
The 2025 win of Super Bowl 59 solidified what people assumed all season, that this was the best line-up the Eagles have ever had. All of the players seemed in tune with one another and their defense was impeccable. Even against the reigning champion–the Kansas City Chiefs, the Eagles dominated with a score of 40-22. The Eagles’ confidence was unshakeable, and once they reached the end of the 4th quarter, they sent out their backups to give the front players their well deserved rest. This was their year; they showed the country and the world their potential, and it was incredible to witness.
Really, it’s impossible to determine why Eagles fans are the way they are. There’s no special formula to achieving such a cult following. Philadelphia is considered the city of brotherly love, but bringing everyone together isn’t easy, and the Eagles are a community, a family, and an amalgamation of what it is to be a Philadelphian.
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