Welcome to Joshua Harris Purgatory: Philly sports fans react to 76ers owner and his tone-deaf support of the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football

While it took a bit to get moving last night in South Philly, the Philadelphia Eagles ultimately dismantled the overhyped Washington Commanders with a 26-18 victory at Lincoln Financial Field on Amazon’s broadcast of Thursday Night Football.

During the broadcast, fans got a close look at a face familiar to both fanbases in Joshua Harris – who as I’m sure most of you know, is the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and now the Washington Commanders.

Harris making an appearance in the owner’s box during TNF—cheering on the Washington Commanders while wearing their “W” hat—wasn’t just a bad look for the Philadelphia Eagles’ fan base- it was a glaring indictment of the growing issue with multi-franchise ownership, particularly when it involves teams from rival cities.

For Harris, this wasn’t just a misstep; it was a slap in the face to Philadelphia sports fans who deserve better. Owning multiple teams in different leagues isn’t inherently a problem, but when those teams represent rival cities, it’s a recipe for disaster.

Harris’s blatant support for Washington in a game against the Eagles—the heartbeat of Philly sports culture—was tone-deaf at best and outright disrespectful at worst. It’s as if he’s forgotten, or worse, doesn’t care, that his actions reflect on the teams and cities he’s supposed to represent.

For Sixers fans, this wasn’t just about Harris rooting for the Commanders; it was a symbol of his lack of investment in Philadelphia as a whole.

The 76ers have been a perennial disappointment under Harris’s ownership and when you show up in South Philly, already dead-set on moving the 76ers out of the South Philly Sports Complex while rocking a Commanders hat, people are obviously going to be pissed off.

The 76ers have fallen far short of championship expectations. As recent as this season, they have lacked any leadership from the front office and have basically fed Joel Embiid to the media wolves and NBA league offices.

On the low end, I could easily list 25+ reasons as to why the Philadelphia 76ers’ ownership has fallen short over the better part of the last decade, but that’s a post for another day.

The fact remains that Harris has shown time and again that his focus is more on expanding his empire than on building a winning culture.

While the Philadelphia 76ers are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference Standings with more question marks than answers, Joshua Harris is reveling in his shiny new toy: the Washington Commanders.

Since acquiring the NFL franchise, Harris has made it clear where his priorities lie. He’s been front and center for the Commanders, injecting energy and enthusiasm that Sixers fans have rarely, if ever, seen from him. It’s hard not to feel like the 76ers are just another business asset for Harris, while the Commanders get his full attention and passion.

Trust me. I completely understand that this isn’t just a Harris problem; it’s an issue with the modern sports ownership model.

When one owner spreads their interests across multiple teams in different cities, it dilutes the sense of loyalty and accountability fans expect.

Sports franchises are not just businesses—they’re cultural cornerstones. They carry the pride and identity of their cities. When an owner like Harris shows up in a rival city’s hat, it sends a clear message: “I’m here for the money, not the community.”

The opposite of that model would be Eagles’ owner Jeffery Lurie and Phillies’ owner John Middleton. The Flyers? Nope. They are owned by Comcast which is arguably worse but at least they are the only team under that umbrella…I guess.

For Philadelphia, a city that lives and breathes its sports, Harris’s split loyalties are unacceptable. Fans pour their hard-earned money into supporting their teams, buying tickets, merchandise, and investing emotionally in their success. In return, they expect ownership to share their passion and prioritize the team and city above all else.

Harris has failed to do that, and Thursday night’s appearance felt like the final straw.

The fundamental issue is that Harris’s portfolio-first approach to ownership strips away the authenticity fans crave. Owning franchises in rival cities creates unavoidable conflicts of interest, and Harris’s actions prove that loyalty to one city becomes an afterthought when profits are at stake. It’s hard to believe Harris genuinely cares about Philadelphia when he’s proudly rooting for a rival in one of the most hostile NFC East matchups of the season.

At the end of the day, sports ownership should be about more than just balancing a ledger. It’s about representing a city, investing in its success, and building a culture that fans can believe in. Harris, with his scattered allegiances, has shown he’s more interested in padding his resume as a multi-sport mogul than in fostering a championship-winning team in Philadelphia.

For Philly fans, who pride themselves on their loyalty and passion, Harris’s actions are a betrayal of everything they stand for. It’s not just that he’s owning franchises in multiple cities—it’s that he’s actively undermining the trust and respect that fans deserve. If Harris can’t commit to Philadelphia fully, maybe he shouldn’t be an owner in the city at all.

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