It's not easy being an Eagles fan in Steelers country, but Philadelphia-area transplants not deterred

They literally wear their allegiance on their sleeves — Philadelphia fans who proudly sport their teams’ colors despite living in Black and Gold country.

That often comes with what they described as good-natured ribbing from their Pittsburgh neighbors — which they’re happy to return in favor — over who has sports superiority.

This week, there’s little to dispute. These Philly fans have the sports spotlight to themselves as their beloved Eagles attempt to win their second Super Bowl title in the past six seasons.

“There is definitely a strong less-than-happy view of Philadelphia here in the Pittsburgh area,” said Jonathan Hoyle, 60, of Mt. Lebanon, a Carnegie Mellon research engineer who grew up just outside Philadelphia in Wilmington, Del.

“When I lived in the Philly area, we never resented Pittsburgh,” he said. “But when you’re the bigger city, you can afford to be that way. I’m noticing more of an anti-Philadelphia attitude here in Pittsburgh. That may come because of the Penguins and Flyers (rivalry) or the Phillies and Pirates. But it still translates into football. People (here) are just not fans of the Eagles. Why not? There’s no rivalry, they’re in completely different conferences, they only meet once every four years. Why even worry about it?

“It’s not as bad as being a Cincinnati or Cleveland fan, but when you find another Eagles fan here, you feel more bound together.”

Insurance sales agent Nick Pilotti, 43, of Greensburg, a native of the West Chester area, said he remembers going to Eagles games when they played at Veterans Stadium. He wears his Eagles gear proudly and enjoys getting a rise out of resentful Steelers fans.

“It’s funny because I moved out here to run a sports facility in Mount Pleasant. So moving out here to run a sports facility as a diehard Philadelphia sports fan was interesting, to say the least,” Pilotti said. “The sports fans out here are very passionate. It was always a topic of conversation and going back and forth joking around, and I didn’t back down.

“While I was at work, I was always wearing Flyers jerseys or Eagles jerseys. I enjoy getting a reaction from the people out here because it’s not often that you see Philadelphia sports stuff when you’re walking around.”

Pilotti may be even more emotionally invested in the Eagles than a lot of other Philadelphia fans. His mother’s second cousin is former Eagles receiver Vince Papale, whose long shot story of trying out for and making the team was made into the 2006 movie “Invincible.”

FedEx employee Mike Tague, 42, of Baldwin grew up in Collegeville about 30 miles from Philadelphia. He moved to Pittsburgh to attend the University of Pittsburgh. He rooted for the Panthers and became a Kenny Pickett fan and, subsequently, a Steelers fan when they drafted Pickett.

“As I got older living out in Pittsburgh, when the Eagles would come to Pittsburgh, I would go and see them every time,” Tague said, adding that the Steelers fans would always tease him for wearing his Eagles gear. “They would mess around with me verbally, but nothing too crazy.

“It was always pretty civil,” he said, admitting that he thought a Steelers fan would be treated in a much nastier way in Philadelphia.

Bill Fiel, 55, of Burlington, N.J., grew up across the Delaware River from Philadelphia and has been an Eagles fan since he was 6 years old. He grew up to be a season-ticket holder.

Fiel is in Pittsburgh on a temporary assignment at PNC Park working on the Pirates’ new videoboard.

“My father is from Mars, so I grew up a Pittsburgh Steelers fans as well,” Fiel said Thursday while at North Shore Tavern near PNC Park.

But this week is all about the Eagles, and being in Pittsburgh when the Eagles are in the Super Bowl has made things a little challenging.

“I wear an Eagles hard hat, so I’ve gotten some pushback — but it’s all been in good fun,” he said. “It’s much (rougher) with the Penguins and Flyers. It seems like everyone’s on board with the Eagles.”