If you walk into a South Philly dive bar and mention the name Mark Wahlberg, you’ll get one of two reactions. Either someone will buy you a Yuengling because they loved Invincible, or they’ll remind you—loudly—that the guy is a die-hard Boston sports fan who probably has a Tom Brady shrine in his basement. It’s a weird, complicated relationship.
The Mark Wahlberg Philadelphia Eagles connection isn’t just about a movie. It’s about a guy from Dorchester who somehow became an "Honorary Philadelphian," even though his primary loyalty lies with the New England Patriots. Honestly, it’s kind of a miracle he hasn't been booed out of the 215 area code yet.
The Movie That Started the Bromance
Let’s be real: most people only care about this because of the 2006 film Invincible. Wahlberg played Vince Papale, the legendary bartender who walked onto an open tryout and actually made the Eagles roster in 1976.
It’s the ultimate underdog story. But here’s the thing—Hollywood took some massive liberties. In the movie, Wahlberg looks like a tiny David among Goliaths. In reality, the real Vince Papale was 6'2". Wahlberg is... well, not 6'2". He’s about 5'8" on a good day.
They also made it look like Papale was just some random guy who had never played ball. Not true. Papale had actually played two seasons of professional football for the Philadelphia Bell in the World Football League (WFL) before he ever put on an Eagles jersey. The "open tryout" in the movie was mostly a private workout invite from Coach Dick Vermeil. But hey, "Guy with Pro Experience Gets Invited to Tryout" doesn't sell as many movie tickets as "Bartender Becomes NFL Star."
Key Differences Between "Invincible" and Reality
- The Touchdown: In the film, Wahlberg scores a game-winning touchdown. In real life, Papale never scored a regular-season touchdown for the Eagles. He was a special teams demon who recovered fumbles, but the big scoring play was pure movie magic.
- The Marriage: The love story with "Janet" in the movie? It didn't happen during his rookie year. Papale didn't even meet his wife Janet until 1991, long after his NFL career ended.
- The Paycheck: The movie implies he was totally broke. While he wasn't rich, he had been a teacher and a pro athlete already.
Is He Actually an Eagles Fan?
This is where it gets tricky. Wahlberg is famously a Patriots fan. He’s been seen on the sidelines at Gillette Stadium more times than most people can count. Yet, whenever he’s in Philly, he’s shouting "Go Birds."
👉 See also: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
He actually addressed this recently. During a promo for his 2024 film The Union, he straight-up admitted that the Eagles are his "second-favorite team." He even said that the only time he was okay with the Patriots losing a Super Bowl was when they lost to the Eagles in 2018 (Super Bowl LII). That’s a bold claim for a Boston guy.
He's got a legitimate soft spot for the city. He’s filmed five movies there, including The Italian Job, Shooter, and The Lovely Bones. He even claims one of his kids was conceived at a hotel in Rittenhouse Square. If that doesn't make you an honorary local, nothing will.
The Pope, the "Go Eagles," and the Controversy
If you want to see how deep this goes, look back at 2015. Wahlberg was the Master of Ceremonies for the Festival of Families during Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia. Standing right there on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, in front of the Holy Father himself, Wahlberg introduced former Eagles running back Herb Lusk.
As he finished the intro, he leaned into the mic and dropped a "Go Eagles."
People lost it. Half the crowd cheered because, well, it’s Philly. The other half (mostly the internet) roasted him for being a "fake fan." But Wahlberg didn't care. He’s lean, mean, and apparently immune to the "traitor" labels from his Boston buddies. He basically argues that once you play an Eagle, you're always an Eagle.
✨ Don't miss: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
Why Philadelphia (Begrudgingly) Accepts Him
In 2013, Mayor Michael Nutter officially named him an "Honorary Philadelphian." It wasn't just a PR stunt. Wahlberg spent months in the city’s toughest gyms training for Invincible. He drank in the bars. He talked to the fans. He realized that South Philly and Dorchester are basically the same neighborhood, just with different accents and better sandwiches in one of them.
"They don’t give that s*** out for free," Wahlberg said about the title. "You gotta earn that, you gotta deserve it from the people."
He’s not wrong. Philly fans can smell a phony from a mile away. If he were just some Hollywood actor trying to look cool, they would have eaten him alive. But because he actually put in the work—taking real hits on the field during filming and staying close friends with the real Vince Papale—he gets a pass.
The 2026 Perspective: Where Things Stand Now
As we move through 2026, the Mark Wahlberg Philadelphia Eagles connection remains a staple of sports-culture trivia. You’ll still see clips of him on the Manningcast or popping up at the Linc during big games.
He’s become a bridge between two of the most aggressive fanbases in sports. It’s a weird niche to occupy. He’s the only guy who can wear a Patriots hat on Monday and shout "Fly Eagles Fly" on Tuesday without getting punched (usually).
🔗 Read more: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
How to Fact-Check the Wahlberg-Eagles Connection Yourself
If you're still skeptical about how much "Eagle" is actually in Marky Mark, here is what you should look for:
- Watch the Invincible Credits: They show actual footage of the real Vince Papale. Compare his size to Wahlberg. It’s hilarious.
- Check the "Honorary Philadelphian" List: It’s a real thing. He shares the "honor" with a very short list of non-natives.
- Listen to Recent Interviews: He’s been more vocal lately about his "dual loyalty," especially since the Patriots haven't been the powerhouse they used to be.
The reality is that Mark Wahlberg isn't an Eagles fan in the way a guy from Delco is. He doesn't bleed green. But he respects the hustle. He respects the "us against the world" mentality that defines Philly sports. And for a city that usually hates everyone, that respect is enough to earn him a seat at the table.
To really understand this, go back and watch his introduction of Herb Lusk. It wasn't scripted. It was just a guy who spent enough time in the city to know that if you’re on a stage in Philadelphia, you better say the words.
Next Steps for the Curious:
If you want to dive deeper into the real history, track down the documentary Invincible: The True Story. It features interviews with the real Dick Vermeil and Vince Papale, and it clears up a lot of the Hollywood fluff that Wahlberg’s version left behind. You might also want to look up the 1976 Eagles roster stats; seeing Papale’s actual special teams impact gives you a much better appreciation for why the city fell in love with him in the first place—long before a movie star ever stepped into his cleats.