As part of the third annual Black Friday football game, the Chicago Bears will be taking on the Philadelphia Eagles at 3:00 p.m. EST on Amazon Prime Video.
With the Christmas season upon us, so is a story filled with snow, frustration, and the big man in red, Santa Claus. For nearly six decades, the story of Eagles fans throwing snowballs at Santa Claus has continued to portray Philly fans as unruly.
What Did Eagles Fans Do to Santa Claus?
The infamous moment dates back to December 15, 1968, which was during one of the worst seasons in Eagles history. The team started with a 0-8 record, and it appeared that the team would have the top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. However, the team went on to win two games, which ultimately ruined their chances of securing the first overall selection, and the Buffalo Bills selected O.J. Simpson.
Eagles fans went into the season finale frustrated, and it showed later in the game.
There was supposed to be a scheduled Santa performer, but they failed to appear. Instead, they had a fan dressed up as Santa come down from the stands and dance while “Here Comes Santa Claus,” played from the band. Instead of it being a warm and festive moment, Eagles fans proceeded to throw snowballs at the fan.
One fan recalled the moment and said, “No one was trying to hurt Santa Claus,” but fans were certainly targeting their frustrations with the wrong person. The fan, who had probably experienced the same frustrations as his fellow fans, became their target practice to send a message to the Eagles organization.
The next day, the incident was barely covered in any media outlet. Instead of it being a news story, it was a small story in a season of despair and misery. Instead, the story spread over the years and became a national headline.
As Christmas approaches once again, the story is likely to make national headlines again, appearing across the internet and in broadcasts. The moment will be forever ingrained in Philly sports Christmas lore.
The Eagles will face the Bears on Black Friday at Lincoln Financial Field. Both teams are currently 8-3, and the game could have significant implications for the playoffs.
Offensively, the team is led by Jalen Hurts, but they’ve been having a down year by their standards. In PFSN’s OFFi, they rank 16th in the league. Defensively, they rank ninth in PFSN’s DFFi, behind players like Quinyon Mitchell, Zack Baun, and Jaelan Phillips.
