Can the Rams beat the Eagles? | First things first
The Los Angeles Rams beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-9 and will face the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Kevin Wildes discuss whether the Rams can beat the Eagles.
Philadelphia Eagles fan Ryan Caldwell spoke out about his behavior at the team’s playoff game against the Packers on Sunday when he was seen on video berating a Packers fan sitting near him with profanity.
Caldwell was fired from his job as a project manager at BCT Partners after a video of his insults went viral. He has apologized but also defended himself, insisting his actions “were not without provocation” and that the viral video “doesn’t show the full context” of what happened.
“While attending an NFL game last Sunday to support my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, an incident occurred that I deeply regret,” Caldwell said in a statement to the New York Post.
“What began as banter with two Packers fans sitting near me escalated into something more serious and I said things that were unacceptable. In the heat of the moment, I chose merciless words to address a of the fans, Mrs. Ally Keller.
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“I sincerely apologize to Ms. Keller for those words, and to my wife, family and friends, my former employer and colleagues, Packer fans, Eagle fans, the Philadelphia Eagles, the City of Philadelphia and anyone who was offended. When it is said, there are two sides to every story.
“The video clip circulating online does not reflect the full context of what happened and my actions were not without provocation. I will live with this experience and I will certainly pay a personal price. For those who do not know me, This incident does not reflect my values or the respect I have for others and does not reflect the person I am.”
The viral video was filmed by Keller’s fiancé, Alexander Basara, and quickly spread across the Internet in the days following the Eagles’ 22-10 victory.
Caldwell’s apology and the news of his firing prompted a wave of celebration and jeers from sports fans on social media.
“Ok, that excuse might be ok from some random drunk guy who wandered into the stadium that day. But someone whose job it was to be inclusive? Hahahahahaha They’re now on their way to job hunting and they’re going to have a hard time grab said hire,” the user wrote.
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Another X-user “loved” seeing the consequences that have befallen Caldwell in recent days.
“I absolutely love how Ryan Caldwell, the Philly Eagles fan who abused a woman for no reason, has had his life ‘turned upside down,'” the user wrote. “Hope it gets worse for you Ryan.”
Another X user described the public reaction to Caldwell’s verbal attacks as “social media justice.”
“Philadelphia Eagles fan Ryan Caldwell has been fired from his job at BCT Partners because of the altercation he had with a Packers fan at last week’s game that has been playing all over the internet. This is not social justice, it is SOCIAL MEDIA JUSTICE,” the user wrote.
One X-user wrote that Caldwell’s behavior is not an isolated incident, and similar language often comes from Eagles fans.
Philadelphia Eagles fans during an NFC wildcard game against the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on January 12, 2025. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)
“And Eagles fans are wondering why everyone hates them and their team. This is not an isolated incident of someone showing up there to support an opposing team. This kind of thing happens all the time there,” the user wrote.
Conservative filmmaker Matt Walsh even weighed in on the controversy.
“A couple of things here. 1) The Eagles fan is a stupid trashy goon. 2) Don’t take your fiancé to a game in Philadelphia wearing the opposing team’s jersey. You’re asking for something like that to happen. 3) You can’t let a man talk to your woman like that. You will have to live with that shame for the rest of your life,” Walsh wrote on X.
Eagles fans have a long history of unruly behavior.
The franchise’s former home, Veterans Stadium, had an on-site court and jail cells to deal with delinquent fans.
Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrate after a play in the second half of the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tennessee Titans at Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 4, 2022, in Philadelphia. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
During a loss against the San Francisco 49ers in November 1997, a fan infamously fired a flare gun into the crowd. Several fights broke out among fans at the game, and team owner Jeffrie Lurie addressed the incident.
“Despite the fact that we feel we’ve made significant progress in recent years in terms of fan behavior at Veterans Stadium, what we saw last Monday was undoubtedly a step backwards,” Lurie told reporters at the time.
The Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday for the right to advance to the NFC Championship Game.
