Bus and train wraps, banners, flags, jerseys, agony and hope—football is back in Philadelphia. Or you may not have noticed. Because in many Philly neighborhoods, Eagles gear just never goes down.
Of all our city’s sports franchises, the Eagles are the most beloved, and speak the most to our cultural moment.
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This current team in particular has become the heartbeat of the city, given their Super Bowl win as underdogs (over the Trump-affiliated, nationally hated Patriots, no less) and the team’s quirky icons, like Jason Kelce delivering that speech in full Mummers regalia and Malcolm Jenkins’ leadership on and off the field. But this is not new.
Perhaps more than any other sports franchise, in any other city, our Eagles have provided a mirror to Philadelphia’s political leadership and ethos over the last five decades—so much so that we can tell the history of Philadelphia politics through Eagles coaches.
These coaches and politicians may not have precisely shared their years in office, but the values they uphold defined their eras.
Consider this: