NY Giants’ Joe Judge to Eagles fan friends: ‘Don’t root against my kids’ Christmas’

NY Giants coach Joe Judge has one rule for his family and friends making the short drive to Philadelphia for Thursday night’s game against the Eagles

The Eagles will allow about 5,500 fans into Thursday night’s game against the NY Giants at Lincoln Financial Field, and that could include a sizable contingent of Giants head coach Joe Judge’s family and close friends. Under one condition.

“My only rule is anybody who shows up that I either grew up with or have blood ties with, they have to wear blue.” Judge said Tuesday.

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Judge grew up in Lansdale, Pa, a Philadelphia suburb about 40 minutes northwest of Lincoln Financial Field, and is understandably inundated with ticket requests from family and friends for Thursday night’s game against the Eagles.

If Judge’s family and pals he grew up with head south on the Northeast Extension on Thursday afternoon for the game, they better not be wearing green or doing “E-A-G-L-E-S” chants out their car windows.

“I respect their love for the Eagles from being in the town,” Judge said. “But hey, look man, you ain’t showing up cheering against my kids’ Christmas. You better come out in some blue cheering for us.”

Thursday won’t be the first time Judge has invited family and friends to games, as NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo pointed out Thursday, some committed the cardinal sin in Judge’s own home:

Judge is taking matters into his own hands, joking that he may even wear a helmet on the sideline.

“I’ll probably buy a helmet too because my in-laws are already buying batteries,” Judge joked Monday.

Jokes aside, Judge understands the meaning of this rivalry, now from both sides. He just plans to be on the right side of it for the first time since the Giants last beat the Eagles back in 2016.

“It’s obviously a great rivalry,” Judge said. “I grew up watching these games. They were always tough games, blue collar type games, when the Eagles and the Giants were playing when I was growing up watching the games. Again, you’re so focused on the opponent, the emotion doesn’t really get tied into it. We just know we have a heck of a team we have to match up against.”

Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.