Eagles fans admit to being loud and passionate, but 'there's really nothing malicious'

It was a fun measure of payback to Vikings' fans, who came to Philadelphia two weeks earlier and dressed the Rocky statue in Stefon Diggs' gear.

The trio smiled for pictures with the Moore statue, then took back their Eagles gear and walked away — not exactly the same level of Eagles antics that Vikings fans have been hearing about in the weeks that followed the Jan. 21 NFC championship game.

By now, Minnesota fans likely recognize the Eagles' faithful as a beer-throwing, curse-hurling bunch. The overarching thought is that Eagles fans are brash and loud as a whole.

"We were the guys that booed Santa," said John Struemke, an Eagles fan who now resides in River Falls, Wis. "We have that rep; we'll always have that rep."

But is that a proper representation?

"I don't think it's fair," said Scott Collins, an Eagles fan from Philadelphia. "We're passionate fans, and I think a few bad fans give the rest of us a bad name."

Passion. That word comes up whenever you ask any Eagles fan to describe the fan base. The Eagles appear to be more than just a football team that people in Philadelphia root for.

"They're part of our heart, our heritage, our blood," Stoltz said.

"But," Quinn said, "there's a fine line."

Eagles fans aren't hiding from the fact that they're loud. As Chad Collins, Scott's son, said, if you walk into Lincoln Financial Field while sporting an opposing team's jersey, and you're loud about it, "well, we're going to be louder."

But Chad noted that Eagles fans can be just as vocal toward their own team's players, too.

"But they know it's a lovingly boo," he said. "They know we're paying attention. I think that's what's important. I think that's why, from the outside of Philadelphia, the Minnesotans looking in, it looks like it's a harsh crowd. But once you're part of that crowd, these are your brothers and your sisters that you're sitting next to and we're all in it together.

"We know sometimes we razz an opponent when we come in, and it's all in good fun for us. There's really nothing malicious. We never do anything with malicious intent."

That's where there might be a few exceptions to the rule. The actions of fans who cross that line can impact the national opinion of the fan base.

"That's basically the one percent of people who are born and raised in South Philadelphia," said Eagles fan Tom Keretz, who called Eagles fans the best in the NFL. "I don't have any problem with those people, obviously, because I'm an Eagles fan. But you get to know a person, they're really into their team, so it's difficult when stuff goes downhill and they get mad. I think every team is like that. You get a bad rap when it gets on camera, I guess."

For instance, footage from the NFC championship game of Eagles fans throwing things at Vikings fans, and even chucking beers at the Vikings' team bus, spread like wildfire on social media. Stoltz said that's not representative of Eagles fans.

"That was sad," she said. "We were embarrassed. Most Philadelphians were embarrassed at how they treated the Vikings fans. I'm sorry. We've been saying I'm sorry to everybody! It's so sad! We apologize, really!"

Chad Collins is a season-ticket holder, and tailgates before games. He said he never feels unsafe at the stadium.

"We have a good time," he said. "When someone with an opposing jersey walks by, yeah, we're going to give them a little bit of the business, but you know, as long as they can handle it and it's all in good fun, then we're going to high five and hug it out after."

Quinn said, aside from "a few rowdies," Philadelphia home games have been cleaned up in recent years.

"They're more family-friendly," she said. "You don't see a lot of that like you used to. It's much, much more friendly. People are friendly in Philadelphia, City of Brotherly Love."