Stories about Philadelphia sports fans are infamous. They are often true. The Eagles’ old stadium, Veteran Stadium, did actually have a jail underneath the field, complete with a presiding judge. Eagles fans did throw snowballs at Santa Claus (though the details of that event tell a much different story). Being an Eagles fan is a unique experience that deeply connects everyone that “bleeds green.” The Eagles released a video at the beginning of the 2014 season that captures the essence of being an Eagles fan and the interconnectedness of the fanbase.
Tough, loud and passionate; those are the words typically used to describe Eagles fans. And after the Eagle’s win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, Eagles fans once again flooded the street to loudly celebrate in what has become standard fashion, climbing street and light poles.
For Michael Matthews, the celebration was a bit different this year. Matthews was not in Philadelphia to practice the “Brotherly Shove” on Broad Street. Instead, he was thousands of miles away, in a different country altogether. Matthews is a MEDEVAC helicopter pilot for the Army and is currently deployed. He has been gone for over 10 months and still has a few weeks left before he can return home.
Thinking about watching the Super Bowl from a deployed environment, Matthews said that “it’s interesting being in this situation. You always see Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen on your screen during the national anthem and stuff. Like they will always show them saluting and at the bottom it will have whatever Airforce base they are watching from. They didn’t film us or anything, but it was kind of funny thinking how I am here now.”
Fortunately for Matthews, his unit had just received some time off in Berlin for a bit of rest and relaxation. For the game, he was able to get off base and go into Berlin to watch it at a local bar. While there, Matthews experienced firsthand the connection between Eagles fans.
“I was looking forward to the game. But it wasn’t going to be the same. I went with some friends from the squadron, but what was really cool was the first bar we walked into had a few other Americans in it that were there to watch. They actually were Eagles fans. I hit them with a loud ‘Go Birds’ and it’s like we were all instantly best friends.”
Matthews was appreciative of the extra company from the Eagles fans. “Seeing the Birds win with a few other fans, that was awesome. It made me feel like I was back home with everyone, even for just a few minutes. Seeing everyone celebrate all crazy afterwards too. I didn’t get to storm the streets like everyone else, but I did get to have a few drinks and scream and yell ‘Go Birds’ a lot while wearing a Jalen Hurts jersey. I got to get a little taste of home, even if our little group of Eagles fans didn’t get to climb any poles.”
For another Eagles fan, Joe Massey, the Super Bowl was an opportunity to see family. Massey is also displaced from Philadelphia and currently lives in San Diego. For Super Bowl LIX, his father, Richard Massey, flew all the way from Philadelphia to San Diego just to watch the Super Bowl with him.
“Back in 2022, we actually went to the Super Bowl in Arizona. When we lost it really sucked. But it was definitely a great experience getting to go to the big game with your dad. This time around we said that we can’t go because it would be bad luck. But we really wanted to watch the game together again. So he flew all the way out and we watched just the two of us in my house. The Eagles are one of the biggest things in our lives. Its our favorite way to bond. My earliest memories are of yelling at the TV watching the Birds with my dad. Sharing this Super Bowl with him was one of the best days of my life.”
Eagles fandom is special. It is a passion that compels someone to fly for nine hours to watch a four-hour game with their son. It is an experience that connects fans in a random bar in Berlin when they cannot be at home. It is a loud “Go Birds” as you walk down the street and the required response that follows: “Go Birds,” but even louder. It is unlike any other fandom in sports. It is a family for Eagles everywhere.
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