Fred Warner’s wife Sydney has shared her horrible experience in Philadelphia as the Eagles defeated her husband’s San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game last Sunday.
Philadelphia is a sports city known for its passionate fans and hostile atmosphere towards visiting teams, particularly when the stakes are raised. It appears the animosity is aimed not just at rival players but their friends and family in the stands, too.
Sydney Warner detailed her harrowing experience of Eagles fans at the NFC Championship in a TikTok shared to her 45,800 followers. The 27-year-old insisted she will not return to Lincoln Financial Field after her heckling experience.
“I’ll probably never go back to that stadium to be honest, I guess you can just call me a wimp, but I couldn’t handle the fans,” Warner, who tied the knot with the star 49ers linebacker in June 2022, said. “Like I’m 100% down for like riding for your team, like ‘Hoorah, let’s go team,’ but honestly I just didn’t feel very safe.
“Fred told me not to wear any red, I did end up wearing a red bag, but I had to end up hiding it underneath my jacket because people were doing the ‘F you’s’ and the shoving and the whole thing.
“Their whole thing is like intimidation, so I try my best just to not let it get to me. Just like stay stone-faced and just walk and let them throw stuff at you and say all the things and just like get to where you’re going. Just like block it out.”
Sydney revealed a ‘drunk’ Eagles fan spotted her red bag and attempted to intimidate her next to a concession stand until another Philly fan stepped in. The station continued as the All-Pro’s partner attempted to leave the game early, only to find herself in a tunnel filled with Eagles fans.
She added: “The way they were just like 'go home, go home' but that's fine. I get it but 'I hope your plane crashes!’ I’m all about passion, but never again.”
The Eagles booked their first trip to the Super Bowl since 2018 as they crushed the 49ers 31-7 in a one-sided NFC Championship Game. San Francisco suffered a number of key injuries with Warner and Nick Bosa picking up knocks before rookie quarterback Brock Purdy injured his elbow, while his replacement - fourth-string quarterback Josh Johnson - suffered a concussion and left the game himself.
Purdy subsequently returned and played on but the 49ers offence was severely hamstrung as the seventh round pick couldn’t throw the ball effectively. It meant the Eagles coasted to victory on the back of four rushing touchdowns, with running back Miles Sanders snagging two.
Warner recorded 23 combined tackles in the 2022 postseason, including two tackles for loss as well as an interception. He earned his second First-Team All-Pro selection of his career during a stellar regular season.
