Philadelphia sports fans are a tough bunch, tougher than virtually any city in North America. Eagles fans are the ultimate boss of Philadelphia sports fans. They are equal parts proudly passionate and shamelessly mean.
They are also equal opportunity offenders. In other words, he can and will rant as loudly at Eagles players as he does his opponents.
Many of these fans would not direct such vocal malice toward others in real life, but they feel that because they bought a ticket, they have earned the right to tell the players their opinions on the field. .
Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay was a guest on the Corner Sweet Podcast, hosted by former Eagles teammate Steven Nelson. Current Eagles and former Eagles shared their personal experiences with fans and how it affected them.
Nelson: Philadelphia is the only place I’ve played…you can hear them [people] I’m talking.
Sorey: Right behind you.
Nelson: “Trade him!” What is Number 3 doing? Take that man and get out of here!
Slay: What if we lose at halftime and go to the game? Boo-boo! The whole stadium!
NELSON: That’s the rink, that super packed one.
Sorey: meek [Mill] And everyone!
Nelson: Did you ever see the home crowd booing?
Slay: I get booed a lot.I asked a fan to become my OC. [offensive coordinator]. “Run the ball!” I’m talking about the entire stadium.
Nelson: They’re playing mind games on OC.
Slay: If they run the ball, it might be a negative play, they’ll root for it.
Nelson: I learned quickly. I said, “Oh, yeah, I have to get out of here.” That’s not good for my mental health. I’m stressed out.
Slay: That’s stressful, kid! I’m not going to lie, they’re the only fans that have ever contacted me.
Nelson: That’s my point!I wasn’t used to…they [fans] I’m going to sit down [right behind] There’s a bench, and they’re on your butt.
Slay: Every play.
Nelson: “That’s terrible!” What is he doing?” You have to hear that on every play. Even if you play well. It’s reached a certain point – and don’t twist it. I am by no means a scrub. I’m just being hard on myself. So I got to a point where I was kind of like — I was playing against the fans. I can’t even concentrate. There’s a third down stop, I’m talking to the fans! Even if it’s not to the other team, I’m talking! One day I came home and said, “Brother, this is not healthy.” [Laughs] “I have to get out of here.”
Nelson played just one season in Philadelphia in 2021, starting every game on a team that finished 9-8 and was outside the top 10 in pass defense. PFF ranked Slay and Nelson as the best tandem in football that season. However, his interactions with fans clearly affected him to the point where he could not stand another season playing alongside Slay.
After spending the past two seasons with the Houston Texans, Nelson is looking to test free agency territory again. I wouldn’t bet on him returning to the Eagles.
