As Pennsylvania's football rivalry approaches, the stakes go beyond just wins and losses. Ahead of today's game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers, politicians from across the state have placed bets to encourage regional interaction.
According to CBS News report, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker has made a wager with Sen. John Fetterman on the game's outcome. Parker stated that if the Eagles win, Fetterman will wear an Eagles hat tomorrow and greet people in Washington with the phrase "Go Birds!"
Sen. John Fetterman responded with his own terms. If the Steelers win, Mayor Parker will have to wear a Steelers hat all day and publicly declare that Sheetz is better than Wawa, as stated in an X post highlighted by NBC Philadelphia.
I bet @PhillyMayor — when the Steelers win, she wears a Steelers hat all day and proclaims at City Hall:
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) December 13, 2024
Sheetz > Wawa (obv)
If Philly wins (unlikely 🙄), I vote in an Eagles hat and proclaim in the U.S. Senate:
Wawa > Sheetz (a filthy lie) pic.twitter.com/5dUyuW1m3R
Gov. Josh Shapiro joined in with some friendly trash talk during a call to Philly radio station 97.5 The Fanatic, as reported by PennLive. "You cannot B.S. your way through sports in life, or certainly as governor. ... I think you gotta be true to your sports teams and be honest with folks about that, and I am," Shapiro affirmed in a quote detailed by CBS News. The Governor's banter underscored the passion and the playful rivalry inherent to Pennsylvania's divided football loyalties.
According to Penn Live, the Eagles and Steelers will clash at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, with kick-off at 4:25 p.m. The Eagles are favored, especially after A.J. Brown's three touchdowns in their last meeting and the Steelers' lack of a win in Philadelphia since 1965. However, the Steelers' 10-3 record adds unpredictability to the game and the politicians' bets.
