A year of loss made me an Eagles fan

I never thought I’d be a football fan. Art? Yes. Civic engagement? Absolutely. But the Philadelphia Eagles? That was never on my radar. Then I moved to Philly from Detroit in January 2023 to become the dean of the School of Art at the University of the Arts, and things began to change.

On my first day at UArts, I walked into Anderson Hall and noticed an older man sitting at the guard desk, carefully stitching a needlepoint of the Eagles logo. It struck me — this wasn’t just a team to him, it was part of his identity. Two weeks later, the Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, and the city mourned. But Philly fans don’t just endure; they rebuild. And in many ways, I was learning to do the same.

When we were all in the teeth of the pandemic, with so many institutions and livelihoods in turmoil, the need to rebuild became more than a necessity — it became a shared purpose. The resilience Philadelphia is known for took on new meaning as the city, its people, and its institutions worked to reclaim what was lost and forge new paths forward.

Last summer, UArts closed with just one week’s notice, an unprecedented and devastating blow for students, alumni, faculty, and staff. The school that had stood on South Broad Street for nearly 150 years vanished overnight, leaving hundreds unemployed and creating a deep void in the city’s cultural heart. I, like so many others, had to find a way forward.

As this year’s Super Bowl approached, something unexpected happened — I found myself swept up in Eagles fever. It started with a visit to the Wanamaker organ at Macy’s, where the noontime concerts began with the Eagles fight song. The grandeur of the organ’s music filling the historic department store, paired with the collective energy of the crowd, made me realize just how deeply embedded the Eagles are in Philadelphia’s cultural fabric. But that visit was also bittersweet — Macy’s has announced it will close its Center City location in March, marking yet another loss for the city.

So, as the Super Bowl approached, I turned to what I know best — art and creativity — to celebrate in a way that felt distinctly Philly. My daughter and I crafted an eagle out of Philadelphia cream cheese, sculpting it as a tribute to the city’s indomitable spirit, while I curated an all-green charcuterie board, transforming food into a visual homage to the team’s colors. This city, its durability, and its unwavering belief in something bigger than itself had finally made me a believer.

Twenty-one years ago, I started a project called “I Wish to Say,” where I take on the role of “Secretary to the People” and invite the public to dictate messages to the president that are typed on vintage typewriters.

Over the years, I have typed postcards from thousands of people and spent countless hours listening to their thoughts. So after the game, I found myself wondering: What would Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and their teammates want to say about Philadelphia, perseverance, and the power of community? If there’s any team that embodies those values, it’s the Eagles.

To continue fostering these conversations, I’ll be typing at the Central Parkway Library on March 5 from noon to 2 p.m., the day after the State of the Union address, giving Philadelphians the chance to reflect and respond. I’ll also be at Philly Typewriter on March 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. for the Global Day of Unplugging, creating a space for people to step away from screens and engage in meaningful dialogue.

Seeing our city react to the Eagles’ win has reaffirmed what I’ve learned through my project and conversations with people around Philadelphia — there’s a lot more that unites us than divides us.

That guard at Anderson Hall may still be job hunting. But today, he still has the Eagles — and I know they’re lifting him up. As the victory parade streams down South Broad Street, it will pass Hamilton Hall, once a symbol of UArts’ legacy. The school is gone, but Philly’s spirit remains, embodied in the unwavering loyalty of its people.

In this city, we don’t just watch football. We stitch it into our lives, we carry it with us — and no matter what, we rise again.

Sheryl Oring’s “Secretary to the People” exhibition runs through April 30 at the Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St. in Philadelphia. She also has work in the National Liberty Museum’s exhibition “Word Powered: Exploring Free Speech Through Art,” which is up through Sept. 8. Oring is the editor of “Activating Democracy: The ‘I Wish to Say’ Project.”