Traitors in Our Midst: Cowboys Fans Lurking in Philly

Whether you’re a radical-left Democrat seeking to destroy this great nation or a far-right Republican plotting to destroy this great nation, one thing that unites us as Philadelphians — from sea to shining Schuylkill — is a shared disdain for the Dallas Cowboys. Unless, that is, you’re one of the handful of anarchists here in Eagles country whose love of the loathsome team puts you in the company of figures like Benedict Arnold, Judas, and Brutus. Here, the villainous origin stories of notable locals who’ve strayed from the virtuous Kelly Green Path.

Ryan Boyer

Business manager, Laborers’ District Council
Blame Tony Dorsett: Boyer met the Dallas running back at Pearson Sporting Goods on Chestnut Street in the late ’70s, and the encounter led to an enduring love of the Cowboys. Among the more difficult days in Boyer’s sports fandom came in August, when he welcomed 500 delegates to a national building trades meeting at the Hilton Penn’s Landing, having agreed to stick to a prepared script: “Welcome to the home of the world-champion Philadelphia Eagles!” Boyer says that instead of waiting to reveal his allegiance, he leads with it. “Sports is the great icebreaker — it’s one of the few things that transcends race, class,” he says. “We can talk sports and have fun with it despite our differences.” He also reports nothing but good-natured ribbing when he’s in full Dallas regalia at the Linc. Though, he admits, “it also helps that I’m a big guy.”

Allen Iverson

Legend, Philadelphia 76ers
The Answer is not shy about his love of the Cowboys, which began with watching games with his mother when he was five and spans numerous social media posts dating back to at least 2013, when he tweeted “Hope my cowboys win this weekend. We need it bad.” Worse yet, try to unsee the photo he shared of himself decked out in a Jason Witten jersey and a white Dallas sweatband while embracing Jerry Jones, who’s grinning like a man who just notarized a contract between a Philly sports icon and the devil himself. Iverson had fun with his complex rooting interests on an episode of the New Heights podcast in October, noting that ex–Eagle great Jason Kelce sent him an autographed photo signed “Fuck the Cowboys.” “My man sent that, so I’ve got to hang it up,” Iverson said. “So it’s in my man cave.”

Ed Brown

Mayor, Upper Darby
In polarized times when speaking truth to power can be a dangerous choice, enter Richard Bly. Wearing a T-shirt honoring the Eagles Super Bowl LIX title, Bly stepped to the microphone at an Upper Darby council meeting in April to air his theory for the town’s woes: Mayor Brown’s rooting interests. “See, this is what happens … when you elect a Cowboys fan to your government,” Bly said in a passionate but surprisingly civil tone not often heard in local politics or sports bars. “Twenty-nine years of losing with this team. … You see what type of leadership they have and that’s what you put your trust in. A Cowboys fan. Sickening.” Through a spokesperson, Mayor Brown, a Southwest Philly native, declined to comment on the nature of his Dallas devotion and the charges of any similarity to Jerry Jones.

Bryce Harper

First baseman, Philadelphia Phillies
Given the Phillies slugger’s penchant for playing to the hometown crowd — Phanatic cleats, Phanatic headband, suit lined with Pha­natic photos — you’d think his green Phetish would extend to the Birds. However, in a promo video for the Eagles/Cowboys matchup on Sunday Night Football last season, Harper admitted he was “mesmerized by the blue star on the silver helmet” and the “glory and tradition of America’s Team” while growing up in Las Vegas. But then, he continued, he moved to Philly for “kind of a work thing,” and he went on to praise “his city” and what the Birds “mean to us.” Further supporting his alleged change of heart, Harper previously told Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson that he’s “Eagles through and through. … [C]hanged my ways, man.” Maybe a halftime lie detector test at the Linc next year?

Gregory Deavens

Just-retired president and CEO, Independence Blue Cross
Nearly a decade of sitting out in the cold as a kid watching the hapless St. Louis Cardinals was enough to drive a young Deavens to switch teams; years later, the converted Dallas die-hard became a Cowboys season ticket holder. His questionable life choices are not lost on Eagles faithful such as City Councilmember Cindy Bass, who enjoys adding this warning anytime she introduces Deavens: “You know he’s a Cowboys fan, right?” In a delicious irony, IBX sponsors Eagles training camp, which Deavens attends regularly. “I always wear something blue and white,” he says. “People give me a lot of grief: ‘I see what you’re doing.’” Yet as proof that the Birds are a gracious breed, Deavens was permitted to hold the Lombardi Trophy at the team training facility. “I thought for a second about running out with it and bringing it to Dallas to join all of the other Super Bowl trophies they have,” Deavens recalls. “But I didn’t want Big Dom tackling me.”

Chris Christie

Former governor, New Jersey
The Garden State native grew up in and around Newark, well north of the Birds fan dividing line somewhere in the center of the state. But if you won’t root for a New York team, why not align with the next closest franchise? Christie is on the record about the origin of what was perhaps his first flip-flop on a critical issue: “The Giants were awful,” he told sports radio station WFAN in 2017. “I watched Super Bowl V, I fell in love with Roger Staubach even though they lost the game, and I was a Cowboys fan ever since.” Given that Dallas is also awful, might we suggest changing your position again — call it Eaglesgate?

Carl Day

Pastor, Culture Changing Christians Worship Center
Proving that even those closest to God are capable of unholy temptations, the North Philly–born and –raised minister and community activist became a Cowboys fan at age six out of sports rebellion toward his stepfather and older cousin, both of whom loathed Dallas. As a teen, Day would save money to travel to Texas for games among like-minded wayward souls. The path of the wicked has not been easy: Friend David Adelman called Day out as a Dallas fan while the poor guy was presenting the Campus Apartments co-founder with an award from the Anti-Defamation League. Even Day’s own congregation offers no salvation. “They wear shirts that say ‘Sundays are for Jesus and Eagles football,’” he laments. “They don’t let me breathe.”

Tyrese Maxey

Guard, Philadelphia 76ers
Amid a veritable ocean of lame excuses for supporting the Cowboys, growing up in the Dallas area might be the only fully acceptable rationale (and even then, still questionable). Maxey, a native of Garland, Texas, and Bright Shining Hope for the Future of the Sixers Franchise, gets a pass for both sticking with his lifelong team and doing it with his usual megawatt smile. After announcing he was backing the Cowboys in the season opener versus the Eagles in September, he issued a vibe check post-game (and post–Birds victory) on X: “J hurts was elite! I love all my Philly People man!!! We still cool right!?”

Published as “Traitors in Our Midst” in the December 2025/January 2026 issue of Philadelphia magazine.