As the San Francisco 49ers prepare to face the Philadelphia Eagles in a wild-card playoff matchup this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, tight end George Kittle shared his thoughts on the passionate fanbase of the Eagles. Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Kittle expressed a surprising admiration for the Philadelphia faithful, known for their intense atmosphere, especially during crucial games.
Kittle noted, “The one thing that”s really unique about Philly is that they don”t really — I mean, maybe like a division rival”s different — but any other road team that comes in there, they hate all of us equally. And I just appreciate that.” He emphasized the loudness of the crowd and the creative antics fans engage in, stating, “They flip you off, they moon you on your bus ride in — but they do that to anybody. It doesn”t matter if you”re the Niners, it doesn”t matter if you”re the Jacksonville Jaguars. It doesn”t matter. They just give you that, no matter what, and I appreciate that because you can tell how much they love their team.”
Kittle”s comments stand in contrast to those of other players, such as New York Giants pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, who has openly criticized Eagles fans for their behavior, particularly during a game in which he claimed they made disrespectful remarks toward his mother. Similarly, Los Angeles Rams pass-rusher Jared Verse voiced his disdain for Eagles fans, calling them “so annoying” prior to a playoff game last January.
Reflecting on his experiences playing in Philadelphia, Kittle remarked, “I just thoroughly enjoy it because it”s so unique every single time.” He recalled his rookie season when the Eagles won the Super Bowl, describing a memorable moment when he arrived at the stadium. “We”re pulling in, it”s my first time playing in “The Linc,” and there were like four 10-year-old kids holding a seven-foot-tall papier-mache middle finger that had like a rotating thing on it, and it made the middle finger come up. And I was like, “That was the coolest thing.” I”ll never forget it. It was my rookie year, and I was like, “Oh, this is excellent.” That was pretty good.”
As of Friday morning, the 49ers are listed as 5.5-point road underdogs against the Eagles, indicating the challenge they will face in front of a raucous crowd. With the stakes high, the atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field is sure to be electric from the opening kickoff through to the final whistle, barring a blowout.
