Philadelphia sports are a city institution, but the infamous passion of fans can be daunting to outsiders. Whether from out of town, state or country — or simply not from a sports household — learning the complex history and culture around Philadelphia sports can be daunting. Luckily, The Triangle has put together the ultimate beginner’s guide for anyone who (at the very least) wants to pretend to have a bare minimum idea of what is going on. Go forth and go birds!
Philadelphia Eagles – NFL
Philly’s NFL team, and 2017 Super Bowl Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles have been a key part of city culture for almost a century. The team is part of the NFC Eastern division, of which they were the 2022 champions under the leadership of current coach Nick Sirianni and current quarterback Jalen Hurts. The 2022 season, however, reached a bitter end as the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl LVII final. The team then lost the NFC Eastern division to rivals the Dallas Cowboys last season in 2023, losing out on the Super Bowl in the Wild Card round. The 2023 season culminated in another bittersweet loss as beloved Center Jason Kelce (a name familiar to Swifties everywhere) announced his retirement. The Swiftie roots run deep in the Philadelphia Eagles, as the record-breaking artist and Reading native herself confirmed at her 2023 Lincoln Financial Field stop on the Eras Tour that she was, in fact, an Eagles fan (a fact that might have changed over the last year). The Birds are represented by the beloved mascot Swoop, and play at Lincoln Financial Field in the South Philadelphia stadium district. If you visit Cira Green Park, near campus, Lincoln Financial Field is visible if you look to the south of Center City.
76ers – NBA
Philadelphia is represented in the National Basketball Association by the historic 76ers. Once home to legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving and Allen Iverson, the 76ers have found their next generation of superstars through names like Tyrese Maxey and recent Olympic Gold Medalist Joel Embiid. Embiid, a two-time NBA scoring champion, is not only the undoubtable MVP of the current roster, but was the league MVP in 2023. As of 2023, the team has been led by former Coach of the Year Nick Nurse, who notably led the Toronto Raptors to their first league championship in 2019 over Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. However, it is currently impossible to discuss the Sixers without mention of controversy in the form of a contentious proposal to build a new Center City stadium — “76 Place” — to replace the team’s current home (shared with the Flyers), the Wells Fargo Center. Concerns especially note the proposed stadium’s impact on the neighborhood of Chinatown.
Flyers – NHL
From 1973–74 to 1974-75, the Broad Street Bullies were the back-to-back Stanley Cup Winners, cementing names like Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent into Philadelphia sports history. However, in 2018, the team made national news not for their prowess, but for the introduction of Gritty — the giant orange team mascot. Gritty swept into Philadelphia with a trail of chaos, with the announcement and reveal of the mascot’s unique appearance even being featured on SNL Weekend Update, where anchor Colin Jost claimed Gritty to be the “first mascot ever based on the crayon drawings of a five-year-old who saw his parents murdered.” Gritty has since become a source of city pride, while the team is currently less so, finishing second to last in the Metropolitan Division last year. Currently coached by John Tortorella, known for his “passionate” coaching style, the team was thrown into further distress last year after star goalkeeper Carter Hart was charged with a 2018 sexual assault in a Hockey Canada scandal that rocked the league. Hart has since become a free agent.
Phillies – MLB
At the time of writing, the Philadelphia Phillies hold the best record in Major League Baseball, topping the National League. The Phillies are one of the more successful teams on this list, winning the league twice (last in 2008) and reaching the World Series a whopping eight times. The 2022 World Series established the Tiësto remix of Calum Scott’s cover of “Dancing on My Own” as an unexpected anthem for the team in their admirable run to the World Series, before falling to the Astros. Even so, the team is stacked with potential at the moment, with key names on the roster like superstar right fielder Bryce Harper and notable third baseman Alec Bohm. The team is managed by Rob Thomson, who was named interim manager in 2022 only to be given the full position after the remarkable 2022 season. Since 2004, Citizens Bank Park in the stadium district has been home to the Phillies. Philadelphia also continues its record of beloved albeit strange mascots with the infamous Philly Phanatic, a green… something which has become one of the most famous mascots in national sports.