Eagles' fans most loyal: We go to away games, bet for our Birds, won't work for Steelers
You know the Philadelphia Eagles have a dedicated fanbase when you can hear booming "E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!" chants at a Phillies' away game in early May. Or consider some diehards fully sleeve of team tattoos, or the epic tailgates, or the team gear filling their closets.
Now, online sportsbook Covers conducted a survey which concluded that Eagles' fans are indeed more loyal to their team than virtually any other fanbase.
"History and success breed loyalty — and the three teams atop this list have both in spades," read a portion of Cover's report. "The Eagles have reached the Super Bowl twice in the past seven seasons, with three NFC East titles and six playoff appearances over that stretch. They're also a fan base that travels well, generating the second-highest road attendance average in 2023 (73,857)."
Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs have most loyal fans in the NFL
Covers used six broad scenarios to reach its conclusion:
Do you always bet on your favorite team to win, regardless of odds/lines?
Would you ever bet on your rival to win the Super Bowl to soften the blow of them being successful?
If your partner/spouse supported your rival and you could convert them, would you?
Would you encourage your children to support your favorite team, or let them choose for themselves?
Would you ever accept paid work/employment with your rival team?
If your favorite team relocated to a different state, would you stay loyal or switch allegiance to a more local franchise?
Eagles' fans received a ranking of 5.9, while the Cheeseheads in Green Bay received a 7.0 ranking, followed by Cheifs' fans receiving a 7.2 ranking.
According to Covers, the lower the ranking, the higher the score.
And it may be time for some NFL East fandom bragging rights, as fans of the Eagles' division opponents ranked much lower.
New York Giants fans came in fourth, with a 10.7 ranking. Dallas Cowboys' fans stood in 17th place with a 16.3 ranking, and Washington Commanders fans were in 29th place, with a 22.2 ranking.
"No one can question Green Bay Packers fan loyalty – just look at the length of their season ticket waiting list. The third-oldest franchise in the NFL has captured four Super Bowl championships and has more wins than any team in history," read a portion of Covers' report. "The Chiefs round out the top three, and it's easy to see why. Kansas City has been the most successful NFL franchise over the past 10 years, compiling an absurd 117-46 regular-season record with three Super Bowl titles and four championship appearances in that span."
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Eagles' fans back their fandom with their wallets, placing the third-most wagers on the team
Eagles' fans don't just travel well and live and die with every down played by their team. They also put their money where their fandom is, as Eagles fans overwhelming bet on their team to win, regardless of the money line.
Covers data notes that 37% of Eagles fans will bet on their team to win regardless of the line, which puts Eagles' fans in third place in this metric.
Chiefs fans are most likely to bet on their Super Bowl-winning squad, with 44% of fans betting on the Chiefs, regardless of the money line. Buffalo Bills fans ranked second, as 38.4% will bet the Bills without factoring in the money line.
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Pennsylvania rivalry between Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers runs deep
There is no love lost between fans of the Eagles and its state neighbor and AFC team the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The beef is so intense, that rival fans would have to think long and hard about working for the opposing team.
Covers asked the question, "Would you ever accept paid work/employment with your rival team?," and Steelers fans ranked first, as 35.25 of Steelers fans saying they would not work for the Eagles.
Likewise, 33.3% of Eagles fans said they wouldn't work for the Steelers, ranking Eagles fans second in that metric.
"States don't get much more sports-obsessed than Pennsylvania," read Covers' findings. "And given the depth of fandom attached to both the Steelers and Eagles, it isn't at all surprising to see both fan bases at the top of this survey question."
Damon C. Williams covers trending and regional developments for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Philadelphia Eagles have the NFL's most loyal fan base
