Philadelphia is a weird place. If you aren't from here, you probably think we're just the people who threw snowballs at Santa Claus back in 1968. Or maybe you think of the guy who intentionally threw up on a kid at a Phillies game. It's a reputation for being mean, loud, and generally "too much" for the rest of the country. But for us? That reputation is a suit of armor. It’s why the phrase Philly no one likes us didn't just become a catchy chant; it became the definitive mission statement for an entire region's soul.
It’s not just about sports. It’s about a chip on the shoulder that has been there since the capital moved to D.C.
The Birth of a Legend: February 2018
The world changed for Philadelphia on February 4, 2018. The Eagles, led by a backup quarterback named Nick Foles, beat the "invincible" Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. It was the city's first-ever Super Bowl win. But the real moment the phrase entered the stratosphere wasn't on the field. It was on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art a few days later.
Jason Kelce—an All-Pro center who would eventually become a future Hall of Famer and a global celebrity—walked out dressed like a Mummers parade king. He looked like a glittery explosion. He stood at the mic and screamed a reworked version of a Millwall F.C. chant.
"No one likes us, no one likes us, no one likes us, we don't care! We're from Philly, f***ing Philly, no one likes us, we don't care!"
At that moment, Kelce wasn't just a football player. He was a prophet. He spent several minutes listing every single slight, every insult, and every reason the national media said the Eagles couldn't win. He spoke for every person in the city who felt overlooked. The crowd didn't just cheer; they roared with the collective realization that they didn't need the world's approval.
Where did the chant actually come from?
Believe it or not, Philadelphia didn't invent this. The roots go back to Millwall, an English soccer club with a notoriously "difficult" fan base. Their fans started singing "No one likes us, we don't care" in the late 1970s as a response to the intense negative press they received.
The Sons of Ben, the primary supporters group for the Philadelphia Union (MLS), actually brought the chant to the city years before the Eagles' Super Bowl run. They sang it in the stands at PPL Park (now Subaru Park) in Chester. It was niche. It was a soccer thing. But when the Eagles adopted it, it went from a stadium chant to a cultural identity.
It’s a Defensive Mechanism
Philly fans are often called the worst in the world. We’ve heard it all. "They booed Santa." "They had a jail in the basement of Veterans Stadium." "They’re hostile."
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When you hear that your whole life, you have two choices. You can try to be "nicer" and win people over, or you can lean into it. Philly no one likes us is the ultimate leaning-in. It’s saying, "If you're going to hate us anyway, we're going to make sure we have a blast while you do it." It removes the power from the critic. You can't hurt someone's feelings by calling them unlikable if they’ve already put it on a t-shirt.
Honestly, it’s a very honest way to live.
There is a specific kind of freedom in being the "villain." When the Phillies made their World Series run in 2022, the "no one likes us" energy returned. Citizens Bank Park became a literal earthquake zone because the fans were so relentless. Other teams hate playing here. They say the fans are too close, too loud, and know too much about your personal life.
Good.
The Commercialization of Spite
Walk down South Street or go to any shop in the Terminal Market, and you’ll see the merch. It’s everywhere.
- T-shirts with Kelce’s face in his Mummer outfit.
- Bumper stickers that just say "WE DON'T CARE."
- Hand-drawn signs in row-home windows in South Philly.
What started as a spontaneous outburst of emotion turned into a brand. But unlike most corporate branding, this one feels earned. You can't sell "No one likes us" to a city like Los Angeles or Miami. It wouldn't work. It only works in a place that has been the underdog for decades. It works in a city that is constantly compared to New York and D.C. and finds both of them a little bit fake.
The Nuance of the "Underdog"
There is a paradox here. After the 2018 Super Bowl, the Eagles weren't really underdogs anymore. They were champions. But the "Philly no one likes us" mentality survived because it’s not actually about the score on the scoreboard. It’s about the perception of the city.
Even when Philly teams are winning, the national narrative often focuses on why they shouldn't be. Or how the fans are going to ruin the celebration by climbing greased light poles. (Which, let's be real, we definitely do). The "no one likes us" mantra is a way of protecting the local joy from outside cynicism.
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Why it Resonates Beyond Sports
If you talk to a teacher in North Philly or a tech worker in University City, they get it. This isn't just for guys in jerseys.
Philadelphia is a "brick and mortar" city. It’s old. It’s gritty. It has a lot of problems, from poverty to infrastructure. But there is a communal pride in sticking it out. The phrase is a badge of resilience. It says we are okay with being "unrefined." We are okay with being the city that eats cheesesteaks at 3:00 AM and yells at the TV.
People who move here from elsewhere often find it jarring at first. The "Philly Hello" is essentially a middle finger or a sarcastic comment. But once you’re in? You’re in. The same people who "don't care" if you like them will be the first ones to help you push your car out of a snowbank.
It’s a weird contradiction. We don't care if you like us, but we care deeply about each other.
The Legacy of the Chant
As we move further away from that 2018 parade, the phrase has evolved. It has become a shorthand for Philadelphia's entire brand of "aggressive hospitality."
You see it in the way the city embraced the mascot Gritty. When the Philadelphia Flyers first revealed Gritty, the internet laughed. They called him a nightmare fueled by orange fur and googly eyes. They hated him.
What did Philly do? Within 24 hours, the city had threatened to fight anyone who insulted him. He was our monster. He was ugly, chaotic, and weird—just like the reputation we've been given. He became the physical embodiment of the "no one likes us" spirit.
Does it ever go too far?
Sure. Sometimes the "we don't care" attitude turns into an excuse for genuine jerk behavior. There's a fine line between being a passionate fan and being a person who makes a sporting event miserable for a family visiting from out of town. Most Philadelphians know the difference, even if the national media likes to pretend we don't.
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The real experts—sociologists who study sports culture—often point out that this kind of "in-group/out-group" mentality is actually very healthy for city morale. It creates a high level of social cohesion. We might fight with each other over which hoagie shop is better (it’s Ricci’s, by the way), but as soon as an outsider talks trash about the city, we are a united front.
Moving Forward With the Philly Mindset
If you want to understand Philadelphia, you have to stop trying to make it "nice." It isn't nice. It’s kind, it’s loyal, and it’s hilariously funny, but it’s not nice.
The Philly no one likes us mantra is here to stay because it’s the most honest reflection of the city’s history. It’s a city of revolutionaries, immigrants, and hard workers who have never had anything handed to them.
How to use this energy in your own life
You don't have to be from the 215 area code to appreciate the sentiment. There’s a lot to be said for stopping the endless quest for "likes."
- Audit your need for approval. If you're doing something right, someone is going to dislike it. Lean into the "villain" role if it means staying true to your goals.
- Find your tribe. The "we" in "we don't care" is the most important part. Surround yourself with people who share your values so the outside noise doesn't matter.
- Own your flaws. Philly doesn't pretend to be perfect. When you own your "grit" and your "rough edges," nobody can use them against you.
- Stay resilient. Underdog status is a temporary condition, but the underdog mindset is a permanent advantage.
The next time you see a highlight reel of a Philly fan doing something ridiculous, just remember: they aren't trying to impress you. They already told you they don't care. And honestly? There’s something beautiful about that.
Practical Steps for the Philly Experience
To truly understand the "no one likes us" vibe, you have to experience it on its own terms.
Start by visiting a game at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. Don't wear the opposing team's jersey unless you have thick skin. Instead of going to the tourist-trap cheesesteak spots, head to a neighborhood tavern in Port Richmond or South Philly. Listen to the way people talk. It’s fast, it’s sarcastic, and it’s incredibly warm once the initial barrier is broken.
Read up on the history of the Mummers Parade to understand the visual language Jason Kelce was using. It’s a tradition that is confusing to outsiders but deeply meaningful to the families that have participated for generations. Finally, look at the mural arts program—the largest in the world. It shows that even in a city that "doesn't care" what you think, there is a massive investment in beauty and community storytelling.
Philly is a city of layers. The "no one likes us" chant is just the outer shell. Underneath is a place that is fiercely protective of its own, relentlessly funny, and more authentic than almost anywhere else in the country. It’s not for everyone. And that’s exactly how we like it.