Philadelphia Eagles fan under investigation after verbally abusing Packers fan during Wildcard Game

A Philadelphia Eagles fan, identified as Ryan Caldwell, is under investigation by his employer, BCT Partners, after a viral video showed him verbally berating a female Green Bay Packers fan during the teams' Wildcard Game on January 12. 

The altercation, which occurred at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, sparked widespread outrage online and has led to calls for action from Caldwell’s employer.

The incident was captured by Alexander Basara, a Packers content creator, who was at the game with his fiancée, also a Packers fan. Basara began filming after a verbal confrontation broke out between his fiancée and an older Eagles fan. The fan, later identified as Caldwell, began insulting Basara’s fiancée with derogatory language. Basara, who had not responded to the insults initially, started recording when the abuse escalated.

In the video, Caldwell can be heard repeatedly using a vile slur directed at Basara’s fiancée. When Basara intervened, asking Caldwell to stop calling his fiancée a "dumb c*nt," Caldwell responded by doubling down on the insult, calling her "an ugly, dumb c*nt." Despite the verbal abuse, Basara remained calm, replying sarcastically, “Cool, cool,” while continuing to film the encounter.

The confrontation escalated further when Caldwell challenged Basara, saying, “You gonna do anything? Shut the f*ck up. Yup. Turn around. Watch the game.” Despite Caldwell’s attempts to provoke a physical confrontation, Basara chose not to engage, instead focusing on capturing the encounter on video.

Basara posted the footage to social media with the message: “What it’s like being an opposing fan in Philly. Unprovoked. Was the 3rd time he said this to my fiancée.” He also expressed his frustration on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Unprovoked, uncalled for. Packers twitter, help me out and find this guy…. this is not okay. I hate that my fiancé had this happen simply cheering for her team.” The video quickly gained traction, amassing over 20 million views and drawing widespread condemnation of Caldwell’s behavior.

Within hours of the video going viral, social media users launched an effort to identify Caldwell. Through online research, it was revealed that Caldwell worked as a business analyst at BCT Partners, a management consulting firm based in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Caldwell has an extensive background in hospitality, having held managerial roles at Plamondon Hospitality Partners, Hersha Hospitality, Marriott International, and Cohenterprises. His now-deleted LinkedIn profile described him as a “highly motivated Project Manager” with a proven track record in managing IT projects and client service. Caldwell is based in Purcellville, Virginia.

Following the identification, social media users directed their attention to BCT Partners, calling for the company to take action against Caldwell. In response, BCT Partners issued a statement acknowledging the video and the behavior of their employee. The company expressed its strong disapproval of Caldwell’s actions, stating that his behavior was “completely unacceptable” and in direct conflict with the organization’s values.

“We have already begun a full investigation as an internal personnel matter to determine what actions will be taken,” the statement read. “We sincerely apologize to everyone affected by this behavior and remain committed to fostering a culture of respect for all.”

Philadelphia has long been known for its passionate and often hostile fanbase, particularly when it comes to opposing teams. However, this incident has raised concerns about the line between fierce competition and unacceptable conduct. Fans and social media users alike are now awaiting the outcome of BCT Partners’ investigation into Caldwell’s actions, as the situation continues to unfold.