It used to get a bit awkward sitting on the stoop and yelling at the clouds about the lack of celebrity fans wearing Philadelphia Eagles colors. Sure, the team always had a handful of stars they could flash up on the Jumbotron in a pinch. Bradley Cooper, Will Smith, Kevin Hart, Questlove, and Rob McElhenney quickly come to mind and bring certified star power.
But, something has changed in the post-Super Bowl years. The Eagles are must-watch TV nowadays. Guided by a starting quarterback (Jalen Hurts) who could easily double as a leading man in Hollywood, and a head coach (Nick Sirianni) who delicately skirts the line between villain and hero. Those two men set the culture and people from all walks of life are clinging to it as celebrity after celebrity pledges their allegiances to the midnight green.
Country music stars Luke Bryan and Zach Bryan were the latest to punch their cards in the Eagles fan club when they professed their love on stage at concerts in Camden and New York, respectively. The Grammy-nominated singers adopted the team for different reasons, but it doesn’t matter why they did it. The Philadelphia Eagles are suddenly the cool kids at the lunch table, rolling their eyes in the direction of the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants fans trying to get the last seat before the bell rings.
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Bradley Cooper: Look, no one is topping the top spot from the Jenkintown native who has racked up a whopping nine Oscar nominations during his acting career. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie always keeps a seat reserved for him in his suite, especially when the calendar turns to December and January. Cooper is arguably the most famous actor in Hollywood, one not afraid to share his football fandom on the big screen as evidenced by the smash hit “Silver Linings Playbook” which preys on all that Philly passion.
Kevin Hart: Is he still allowed to attend Eagles games after the Super Bowl fiasco in 2018? That’s a seriously funny story that Hart has since explained (spoiler alert: blame the tequila). Anyway, the Philly-born comedian does a lot of goofy things — for example, he bought an eagle and named it after Jalen Hurts — but there his pride runs deep. He is a ride-or-die for life.
Taylor Swift: The current Queen of Pop gets bumped higher up this list because of her unparalleled fame and influence on the younger generation. She can inflict controversy with one lyric like the talented 33-year-old did on the song “Gold Rush” when it was first released in 2020. She referenced an Eagles t-shirt on the track which incited a whole debate about her football fandom. Well, the Reading native answered the question at a recent show in Philly by saying: “Guys like come on, like, I’m from Philly, of course, it’s the team.” Then, a few weeks later, Swift was spotted wearing an Eagles sweatshirt.
Will Smith: Everyone knows the song … “In West Philadelphia, born and raised” … and Smith was never shy about wearing his Randall Cunningham jersey or Eagles cap on his hit TV show back in the day. It was a seamless part of the script. Fast forward to 2023 and the real Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is always quick to flap his wings in support of the Birds, much like he did in a Super Bowl tribute video back in February. The Chris Rock incident aside, Smith continues to be one of the biggest stars to ever come out of the 215.
Sylvester Stallone: Rocky Balboa himself needs no introduction. None. He has been known to wear a custom No. 22 Eagles jersey and share motivational messages from his social media channels. He seems to care so deeply about the hometown team that he refuses to attend games for fear of jinxing them. The one and only time he was there, the Eagles lost.
President Joe Biden: This has nothing to do with politics. Nothing at all. But when the undisputed Leader of the Free World opens up his State of the Union address by acknowledging the Philadelphia Eagles, well, let’s just say that has staying power. Biden hails from nearby Delaware but his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, grew up in Willow Grove and certainly has exerted her influence over his rooting interest. Either way, President Biden loves the Birds and showers them with praise at any opportunity he gets.
Meek Mill: It’s funny, the Philly-born artist probably makes this list more for his reform work than for his hard-hitting bars in the studio. The work that Meek Mill — real name: Robert Rihmeek Williams — has been able to accomplish for those trapped in the prison justice system is incredible. Of course, the “Nightmares and Dreams” rapper also provided the soundtrack to the Eagles’ only Super Bowl championship.
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Miles Teller: The Downingtown native often posts pictures on Twitter and attends games at Lincoln Financial Field. He gave a stirring tribute as Goose’s son in the Top Gun reboot that was nominated for an Academy Award in 2022.
Rob McElhenney: The creator and star of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” has converted his co-star and wife Kaitlin Olson into an Eagles fan, too. McElhenney has tied storylines into the show on multiple occasions, highlighted by “The Gang Wins the Big Game” in a 2018 episode.
Questlove: Perhaps we have just started taking the genius of the Roots’ famed drummer for granted. He was the original Eagles cheerleader who rolled out an Eagles-logoed drum when he first got picked for Jimmy Fallon’s house band. He’s another celebrity always in the stands at Lincoln Financial Field.
Pink: The Doylestown native is one of the most recognizable pop stars in the country, and never misses the chance to fly her Eagles flag high. Remember, she sang the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl LII in Minnesota.
Tina Fey: There is a case to be made that the longtime brains behind “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” is the funniest person on the planet. Her authentic sketches, highlighted by her drawn-out impersonations of the Delco accent and an absurd Wawa affection, have hilariously put Eagles fans on the map.
Ryan Phillippe: The Delaware native quietly became a fan-favorite celebrity after he was profiled on the Eagles’ website. The “Cruel Intentions” actor said he was “born into the obsession” and fell in love with the franchise when he attended a game at Veteran Stadium as a kid.
Quinta Brunson: A newcomer to the list, the Golden Globe winner is the creative force behind the hit TV show “Abbott Elementary” where she successfully conveys what it’s like going to school in Philadelphia. Well, her version is a bit funnier than it is in real life. Brunson, who has worked the Eagles into the show, was spotted sitting front row at multiple games during the 2022 Super Bowl run.
AP Photo/Chris Szagola
