Playing for the city of Philadelphia has never been a simple task. Philadelphia sports fans are known for their unyielding passion towards their home teams.
When Philly sports teams win, poles are greased to prevent fans from climbing them. Broad Street and Xfinity Live, located in South Philadelphia outside of the stadium district, are packed with excited fans.
But when things do not go their way, Philly fans will not hesitate to boo their own players. They have even gone as far as throwing snowballs at Santa Claus and batteries at an outfielder for refusing to play in Philadelphia.
Some players struggle to earn the respect from the fervent fans. On the other hand, a few athletes have worked to establish themselves as the faces of the five major sports teams in Philadelphia.
Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts in Eagles uniform watching a play unfold.
Being a quarterback in the NFL is one of the most difficult positions to play in all of sports. Hurts is QB1 for the Philadelphia Eagles and has carried his team to the Super Bowl on multiple occasions. In 2025, with tireless hard work and dedication, he brought the Lombardi trophy back home to Philly as Super Bowl MVP. Hurts’ imperturbable attitude and constant will to win has won over the hearts of Philly sports fans.
Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid in 76ers uniform yelling while playing a game.
Despite his history of injuries and struggles with winning over the hearts of the Philly crowd, Embiid has put himself at the forefront of the Sixers franchise. He is a former MVP, and no matter how much time Embiid misses on the court, he always manages to come back just as good as before to provide for his team. He is constantly at the receiving end of blame from fans, yet he still relentlessly shows up time and time again. It is hard for fans to ignore his passion.
Travis Konecny
Travis Konecny in Flyers uniform shooting a puck.
Better known by his teammates as ‘TK’, just like some Philly sports fans, Travis Konecny is known for his short temper. However, he never hesitates to use his attitude for the better to stick up for his teammates and defend his city. Don’t believe it? There is footage of him threatening to drop the gloves with someone on behalf of Philadelphia. Konecny’s talent, wit, and explosive style have kept him in Philly for quite some time now, and will keep him sticking around for a while longer.
Alejandro Bedoya
Alejandro Bedoya in Union uniform in pursuit of a ball to make a play.
Alejandro Bedoya was recently named the captain of the Philadelphia Union. He is a midfielder with strong leadership skills, assisting the Union with their success. He shows his love for his fellow Philadelphia professional sports teams whenever he can. Bedoya is also known for speaking out about what he believes in and also has a well-established relationship with Philly fans. His boldness, bravery, and heart are all things Philly fans reciprocate about their teams and athletes. Bedoya embraces the personality with pride.
Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper in Phillies uniform framing the logo on the front of his jersey after hitting a homerun in the playoffs.
Harper might be the face of Philadelphia sports as a whole. The Phillies’ beloved ‘MV3’ encapsulates everything Philadelphia sports fans look for in their athletes. He thrives in the spotlight and loves to live up to his nickname as ‘The Showman’.
Like Philly sports fans, Harper’s competitiveness is off the charts. He loves the city and its people and isn’t afraid to make it known. Harper is Philadelphia’s top panderer and Philadelphian at heart.
It takes guts to play for Philadelphia. These athletes take on the nearly impossible challenge of being the faces of some of the most hated teams in the world, with some of the most hated fans in the world. However, with their fire, passion, and determination, they fit in perfectly with this gritty city.
