The Philadelphia Eagles have several long-running NFL rivalries, but three opponents stand above the rest: the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Washington Commanders.
All three share the NFC East with Philadelphia, guaranteeing regular meetings and decades of division races, playoff pressure and memorable games.
For many Eagles fans, Dallas is the most emotionally charged rivalry. The Giants-Eagles series is older and has produced some of the franchise’s most famous moments, while Philadelphia and Washington have been playing since the 1930s.
The Pittsburgh Steelers add a different kind of rivalry because the two clubs represent opposite sides of Pennsylvania.
Here is how the Eagles’ biggest rivalries rank, where each one came from and why they still matter.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Biggest Rivals at a Glance
| Rival | Rivalry type | Series began | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | NFC East | 1960 | Philadelphia’s most emotionally intense modern rivalry |
| New York Giants | NFC East | 1933 | One of the NFL’s oldest and most historic divisional rivalries |
| Washington Commanders | NFC East | 1934 | Nearly a century of division history and postseason stakes |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Pennsylvania / interconference | 1933 | State pride, shared history and the Steagles connection |
| San Francisco 49ers | Modern NFC rivalry | 1951 | Recent playoff and contender-level tension, but less historic |
The ranking is not absolute. Different generations of Eagles fans may put the Giants or Cowboys first, and the intensity of any rivalry rises when both teams are competing for the NFC East or a place in the Super Bowl.
1. Dallas Cowboys: The Eagles’ Most Intense Rival
Ask most Philadelphia fans who the Eagles’ biggest rival is and the answer is likely to be the Dallas Cowboys.
The rivalry began in 1960, Dallas’ first NFL season. It became far more personal during the 1960s and developed into one of the league’s most hostile divisional relationships.
The Eagles’ own official history of the rivalry traces much of the bad blood to the 1966 and 1967 seasons, including a 56-7 Dallas win and a violent hit by Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan on Eagles running back Timmy Brown.
The rivalry has remained relevant because the Eagles and Cowboys have shared the same division for decades. They normally meet twice during the regular season, so even when one team is rebuilding, the matchup can directly affect division standings and playoff seeding.
Why Eagles-Cowboys Means So Much
- Both teams have large, passionate national fan bases.
- Philadelphia and Dallas have frequently competed for NFC East titles.
- The teams have met in the postseason.
- The rivalry has produced famous moments such as the 1980 NFC Championship Game and the 1989 Bounty Bowl.
- The contrast between Philadelphia’s identity and Dallas’ long-standing “America’s Team” image adds a cultural edge.
In 2026, the Eagles’ official site again highlighted Eagles-Cowboys as one of football’s defining rivalries when the teams were scheduled for a Thanksgiving meeting in Dallas.
The matchup continues to receive national television windows because the rivalry consistently draws interest beyond the NFC East.
The 1980 NFC Championship Game
One of the most important games in Eagles history came on January 11, 1981, when Philadelphia beat Dallas 20-7 in the NFC Championship Game.
The victory sent the Eagles to Super Bowl XV and remains one of the clearest examples of why postseason success can define a rivalry for generations.
The Bounty Bowl
The rivalry reached another level in 1989 when the Eagles beat the Cowboys 27-0 on Thanksgiving.
Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson accused Philadelphia coach Buddy Ryan of placing bounties on kicker Luis Zendejas and quarterback Troy Aikman. Ryan denied the accusation, but the game became part of Eagles-Cowboys folklore.
For emotional intensity, national attention and modern relevance, Dallas is the safest answer to the question: Who is the Philadelphia Eagles’ biggest rival?
2. New York Giants: The Eagles’ Oldest Major Rival
If Dallas is the rivalry that generates the most emotion, the New York Giants have the strongest claim as Philadelphia’s deepest historical rival.
The teams first met in 1933, the Eagles’ inaugural season. That means Giants-Eagles predates Eagles-Cowboys by nearly three decades.
Geography also matters. Philadelphia and New York are close enough for fan bases to overlap, travel and interact regularly. The rivalry is not simply about standings; it is part of a broader sports rivalry between the two cities.
Former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins once described Giants-Eagles as the team’s biggest rivalry because of the physical style, close games and consistent divisional stakes.
The Eagles’ own retrospective on the series reflects how strongly some players have viewed the matchup.
Miracle at the Meadowlands
No discussion of Eagles-Giants history is complete without the Miracle at the Meadowlands.
On November 19, 1978, Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik attempted a late handoff instead of simply running out the clock.
The exchange was fumbled, Eagles cornerback Herman Edwards recovered the ball and returned it for the winning touchdown.
The play became one of the most famous late-game mistakes in NFL history.
Miracle at the New Meadowlands
More than three decades later, the rivalry produced another remarkable finish.
On December 19, 2010, Philadelphia trailed the Giants 31-10 in the fourth quarter before mounting a comeback. DeSean Jackson returned a punt for a touchdown as time expired, completing a 38-31 Eagles victory.
That game is commonly known as the Miracle at the New Meadowlands.
The fact that two of the most famous plays in Eagles history happened against the Giants explains why this rivalry is impossible to treat as secondary.
3. Washington Commanders: A Rivalry Dating to 1934
The Eagles’ rivalry with the Washington Commanders is nearly as old as the franchise itself.
Philadelphia and Washington first played in 1934, when Washington’s franchise was still based in Boston. The teams later became long-term divisional opponents and have spent generations competing in the same part of the NFC.
That history makes Eagles-Commanders one of the NFL’s longest-running series.
The rivalry has moved through different competitive cycles. At times Dallas or New York has commanded more attention, but Philadelphia-Washington quickly becomes intense when both teams are contenders.
That happened again during the 2024 postseason, when the Eagles and Commanders reached the NFC Championship Game.
Philadelphia’s official coverage described Washington as its NFC East rival and focused on the importance of a third meeting after the teams split their two regular-season matchups.
Why the Commanders Rivalry Matters
- The series dates back to the 1930s.
- Both franchises have spent decades in the same division.
- They usually meet twice each regular season.
- Games frequently influence NFC East standings.
- The rivalry added a major modern postseason chapter with an NFC Championship meeting.
Washington may not produce the same immediate reaction among Eagles fans as Dallas, but historically it belongs firmly among Philadelphia’s three primary rivals.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Battle of Pennsylvania
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not NFC East rivals, but they represent the most obvious geographic rivalry outside the division.
The Eagles and Steelers both entered the NFL in 1933 and represent Pennsylvania’s two largest cities.
Before the NFL-AFL merger placed Pittsburgh in the AFC, the franchises met much more frequently. Today they play less often because they belong to different conferences, but the state connection keeps the matchup distinctive.
The Steagles
During World War II, player shortages affected NFL rosters. In 1943, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh temporarily combined teams to form the unofficially named Steagles.
The combined team finished 5-4-1, giving Philadelphia its first winning season as an NFL franchise.
That shared history makes Eagles-Steelers unique: the teams have been opponents for most of their existence, but for one season they were literally the same team.
According to the Steelers’ official series history, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have met dozens of times since 1933, although modern meetings are less frequent because of their conference alignment.
For that reason, Eagles-Steelers is best described as a regional or cross-state rivalry, not a rivalry on the same level as Dallas, New York or Washington.
5. San Francisco 49ers: A Modern NFC Rivalry
The San Francisco 49ers are not a traditional Eagles rival, but recent seasons have created enough tension for the matchup to feel different from a normal NFC game.
The two franchises have regularly appeared in the NFC contender conversation, and their 2022 NFC Championship Game added postseason weight to the matchup. Philadelphia won 31-7 to advance to Super Bowl LVII.
San Francisco responded with a decisive regular-season win in Philadelphia the following year, feeding debate between the fan bases over which team was stronger.
That does not place Eagles-49ers alongside the historic NFC East rivalries yet. A true NFL rivalry is usually built across decades, repeated high-stakes meetings and shared division history.
Still, if Philadelphia and San Francisco continue meeting in important playoff games, this could develop into one of the Eagles’ most significant modern non-division rivalries.
Cowboys vs. Giants: Which Team Is Really the Eagles’ Biggest Rival?
There is no universally correct answer because “biggest rival” depends on what you value.
If the question is about fan emotion and modern hostility, the Cowboys are usually No. 1. If the question is about age, geography and historical depth, the Giants have an excellent case.
- Cowboys: Most hated and emotionally intense rival.
- Giants: Oldest major rivalry and one of the most historically significant.
- Commanders: Long-running divisional rival with roots in the 1930s.
- Steelers: Pennsylvania’s regional rivalry.
- 49ers: Emerging modern NFC rivalry.
The Eagles themselves have used different language at different points in franchise history. Former players have called the Giants the biggest rivalry, while current team coverage regularly highlights Dallas as the rivalry that generates the strongest reaction.
Why NFC East Rivalries Stay So Intense
The NFL schedule guarantees that division opponents repeatedly affect one another’s seasons.
The Eagles play the Cowboys, Giants and Commanders twice in a normal regular season. Those six divisional games can decide:
- the NFC East champion
- playoff qualification
- home-field advantage
- wild-card seeding
- late-season tiebreakers
Familiarity also creates tension. Coaches study the same opponents repeatedly, players face each other year after year and fans know that even a struggling divisional rival can damage a playoff run.
For the current Philadelphia schedule, standings and team information, visit the Philadelphia Eagles team page.
If you are trying to find where an Eagles or other NFL matchup is being shown, our complete NFL live streaming and TV guide covers the league’s major broadcast options.
Most Memorable Eagles Rivalry Moments
Eagles 20, Cowboys 7 — 1980 NFC Championship
Philadelphia defeated Dallas to reach Super Bowl XV.
Miracle at the Meadowlands — 1978
Herman Edwards returned a late Giants fumble for the winning touchdown.
Bounty Bowl — 1989
Philadelphia shut out Dallas 27-0 on Thanksgiving amid accusations that became part of rivalry history.
Miracle at the New Meadowlands — 2010
DeSean Jackson’s walk-off punt-return touchdown completed an extraordinary comeback against the Giants.
Eagles vs. Commanders — 2024 NFC Championship
The longtime divisional rivals met with a Super Bowl berth at stake, adding a major modern postseason chapter to the series.
Eagles vs. 49ers — 2022 NFC Championship
Philadelphia’s 31-7 victory sent the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII and intensified the modern relationship between the two NFC contenders.
FAQs
Who is the Philadelphia Eagles’ biggest rival?
The Dallas Cowboys are generally considered the Eagles’ most intense rival, particularly from the perspective of Philadelphia fans. The New York Giants also have a strong claim because Eagles-Giants is older and has produced many famous moments.
Why do the Eagles hate the Cowboys?
The rivalry grew from repeated divisional meetings, physical games in the 1960s, battles for NFC supremacy and the cultural contrast between Philadelphia and Dallas. Decades of memorable incidents and nationally televised games have kept the hostility alive.
Are the Eagles and Giants rivals?
Yes. They have played since 1933 and share the NFC East. Eagles-Giants is one of the NFL’s oldest divisional rivalries and produced both the Miracle at the Meadowlands and Miracle at the New Meadowlands.
Are the Eagles and Commanders rivals?
Yes. Philadelphia and Washington have played since 1934 and are longtime NFC East opponents. Their meetings regularly affect the division race, and the rivalry gained another major chapter when they met in the 2024 NFC Championship Game.
Are the Eagles and Steelers rivals?
Yes, but primarily as a regional rivalry. Both franchises are based in Pennsylvania and entered the NFL in 1933. Because Philadelphia is in the NFC and Pittsburgh is in the AFC, they do not meet as frequently as the Eagles’ divisional rivals.
Did the Eagles and Steelers ever combine teams?
Yes. In 1943, wartime roster shortages led Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to temporarily merge into a team commonly called the Steagles.
Are the Eagles and 49ers rivals?
They have developed a modern competitive rivalry, particularly after recent high-profile NFC games. However, it does not yet have the historical depth of the Eagles’ rivalries with Dallas, New York or Washington.
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