Which NFL Fanbase is best in Pennsylvania? Eagles or Steelers? We reveal ALL.
There are 32 teams in the NFL, and seven states are home to more than one.
The list includes California, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Here, we will focus on Pennsylvania, home to the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pennsylvania is known for having some of the most passionate fans in the NFL. Still, here we’re going to answer this question: Do the Steelers or Eagles have the better fans?
To examine, we’ll look at some of the stories reported over the years that earned each fan base the reputation they have today and the team accolades.
First up, let’s head to the City of Brotherly Love and look at those Eagles.
Philadelphia Eagles
Unfortunately, the Eagles have not done a great job at presenting themselves as a family-friendly bunch.
The history of poor fan behavior dates back decades, with some of the earliest stories coming from the 1968 season.
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That season, the Eagles were 0-11. That same year, the University of Southern California had a running back named O.J. Simpson, who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy.
You’d think the fan base would be upset at the 0-11 campaign, but they weren’t—they preferred losing to secure Simpson with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The Eagles started to win some and eventually fell out of the running.
However, during those times of winning, the Eagles decided to dress someone up as Santa Claus and have them entertain the fans by being in the stands.
In response to the lack of losing to get Simpson, the fans started throwing snowballs at Mr. Claus.
The Sour Behavior Continues…
While this may be a more light-hearted moment, some of the more egregious examples of sour behavior came in a game against the Dallas Cowboys—an archrival—in 1999 at Veterans Stadium.
In that game, the Cowboys wide receiver was injured. At the time, no one knew that this would be a spinal injury that would end his career, but that doesn’t excuse how Eagles fans responded.
When a player is down on the field and unable to move, the crowd usually waits with bated breath for the player—regardless of team affiliation—to show signs of consciousness or that he is OK.
Instead, Eagles fans cheered on as one of the best wide receivers the game had seen at the time had his career coming to a close.
There are other examples, such as booing the draft pick of quarterback Donovan McNabb and burning DeSean Jackson’s jersey after he was cut from the team. Still, the Eagles fans are an unforgiving bunch.
And don’t forget how fans did things such as climb light posts after the Eagles finally won their first Super Bowl in 2018. However, as chaotic as the Eagles fanbase is, it does point to passion and enthusiasm for the team they love most.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Eagles won their first Super Bowl in 2018. While they are the more recent Pennsylvania NFL team to win a Super Bowl, the Steelers are no strangers to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, having won four between 1975 and 1980 and another two in 2006 and 2009.
Also, while it may not be Super Bowl titles, the Steelers hadn’t had an under .500 season since 2003, when they went 6-10. After that year, they’d go on to draft quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He helped lead the team to a 15-1 record and remained their starting quarterback from 2004 to the end of the 2021 season.
Those that arrive at the then Heinz Field (now Acrisure Stadium) come carrying a Terrible Towel, a trademark of the Steelers fan base.
While they are loud and raucous, there aren’t many stories involving violence or cheering on an injured player.
No matter what team you look at, fights will break out in the stands. But some will argue that Steelers fans have an element of hubris to them, thanks to all their success.
Are Eagles or Steelers Fans Better?
No one likes the fan that’s so used to winning that they’re obnoxious about it. But that’s nothing compared to some of the things Eagles fans have done.
Even after winning a Super Bowl, Eagles fans destroyed the city they love.
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The Steelers may be bitter rivals against the Baltimore Ravens. Still, it’s safe to assume that if Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson were seriously injured in a game, Steelers fans wouldn’t cheer that on.
So, would you rather have classless fans or snobbish fans?
I’ll take snobbish. Steelers win this one.
The Steelers have the better fan base.
