The Philadelphia Eagles are set to host the Washington Commanders this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field for the NFC Championship Game. As has become tradition, fans of the opposing team have once again decided to “mess with” the Rocky Statue outside of the Philadelphia Museum of Art-a move that many Eagles fans believe is a surefire way to invoke what they call “The Rocky Statue Curse.”
For years now, visiting fanbases have made the same mistake: dressing up the iconic Rocky Statue in their team’s gear, only for their team to lose shortly thereafter. This time, it’s Commanders fans who have fallen into the trap, decking out the statue in Washington colors ahead of Sunday’s game.
While it might seem like harmless fun, Eagles fans on social media are quick to point out the dubious history of this tradition. “Messing with the Rocky Statue is never the way to go,” one fan remarked, citing a long list of teams that have suffered defeat after pulling this stunt.
Related:
- Super Bowl 2025: date, time, halftime show and everything you need to know
- Where to watch the 2025 Super Bowl? TV channel and streaming where you can watch the game
- Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show: Everything you need to know about Kendrick Lamar’s show
- Super Bowl Winners List: All the teams that have won the Super Bowl by year
- Gatorade Color Super Bowl: Odds, history and more about the traditional Gatorade bath
The so-called curse has an impressive track record. Over the years, teams like the 2017 Vikings, the 2018 Patriots (in Super Bowl 52), and the 2023 49ers (in the NFC Championship Game) have all fallen victim after tampering with the statue. Even non-football teams like the 2022 Astros (World Series Game 3) and 2023 Diamondbacks (NLCS Game 1) haven’t been spared. While the Kansas City Chiefs managed to escape with a win in Super Bowl LVII, some Eagles fans dismiss it as a “false flag.” This year, the Commanders’ fate remains “TBD,” but history doesn’t bode well for them.
Eagles fans warn Commanders: Don’t mess with Rocky!
Interestingly, despite all the attention surrounding the statue, many Philadelphians don’t actually care about it. “Literally no one cares about the Rocky Statue,” one local wrote. “You can take that chunk of metal and toss it in the Schuylkill River for all I care.” For most residents, it’s more of a tourist attraction than a sacred symbol of Philadelphia sports culture.
The humor lies in how opposing fans think defacing Rocky is some grand insult to the city. To Eagles fans, it’s simply another opportunity to watch their rivals lose. As one fan put it, “Every time it happens, their team loses. We’re laughing at you.” Whether or not you believe in curses, one thing is clear: tampering with Rocky hasn’t worked out well for anyone yet.