Bryce Harper Goes All Out in Support of Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Phillies explained his long-time connection to the Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys rivalry.
Bryce Harper Goes All Out in Support of Philadelphia Eagles
Bryce Harper Goes All Out in Support of Philadelphia Eagles /
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Fun fact — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan.

He revealed that little fact on Sunday night as he narrated the intro for Sunday Night Football between the Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles.

The video started by showing Harper’s feet walking down some steps and then walking through a hallway to sit down in front of a camera.

“Real talk,” he said.

“When I was a kid, I grew up mesmerized by the blue star on the silver helmet, all the glory and tradition of America's team,” Harper said. “I was a Cowboys fan.”

And then the narrative shifted.

And then I moved to Philly,” Harper said. “Kind of a work thing.”

For the next minute, the intro showed highlights of Harper as a Phillie hitting his 300th home run and highlights of Eagles and Cowboys games, including highlights form their most recent meeting last month in Philadelphia.

The two-time MVP then extolled the virtues of his current home.

“If you know my city, you know what the Eagles mean to us,” Harper said. “It’s the heart of the Philly fabric, Philly pride and the Philly way.”

So Harper grew up a Cowboys fan, but he’s been repping the Eagles of late, even showing up at Eagles game at the Linc this season. He’s also popped up at Flyers games since the baseball playoffs ended with the Phillies losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Championship Series.

So he gets the passion, the hate and the history between the two teams that are fighting to win the NFC East this season.

“So I know from being on both sides of this rivalry how important this game tonight is to these teams, all the history, all the memories,” Harper said. “Believe me, as an athlete, when you become part of that you get consumed by it. So even if they weren’t two of the best teams in football, when these two teams get together, it just matters more.”

Harper won his third Silver Slugger award in 2023 after he returned from Tommy John surgery to play in 126 games, slashing .293/.401/.499/.900 with 21 home runs and 72 RBI as primarily a designated hitter. The Phillies anticipate he will be their starting first baseman in 2024. 


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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros for Sports Illustrated/FanNation. He also covers he Big 12 for Heartland College Sports.