The Psychology of an Underdog Victory: Why the Eagles' Super Bowl Win Mattered Beyond Football

by Dr. Denise Renye

Being born and raised in Philly proper, it will always be my home. It’s in me. And when the Eagles won the Super Bowl on Sunday, it meant something deeper than just a sports victory. It was bigger than football. It was about the people, the city, and the spirit of what it means to be from Philadelphia. It was a powerful reminder of the psychological impact of collective resilience—the way a shared victory can restore hope, shift narratives, and affirm that even those who have been counted out can rise. Much like how we work with parts of the self in therapy, when a person begins to heal and embrace those hidden or suppressed parts, they can experience a shift in their internal story, reclaiming power and potential that once felt out of reach.

Philly has always carried an underdog identity, a city that feels overlooked and underestimated. It’s a place where people work hard, where grit and resilience are woven into daily life. But beneath that toughness, there’s also a deep longing—to be seen, to be valued, and to know that all the struggle has meant something. And when the Eagles won, it wasn’t just a win for a team—it was a win for a city that has often felt underappreciated. It was a moment of validation, a reminder that even when the odds are stacked against you, success is possible.

In my work as a psychologist and sex therapist, I see parts of people that embody the underdog—the aspects of themselves that feel unseen, unworthy, or incapable of change, yet still hold the potential to rise. Because if that potential, that glimmer of hope, weren’t present, they wouldn’t show up in my office—even if it exists only unconsciously. The internal underdog parts are the ones who don’t believe they can change, who feel stuck in patterns of addiction, shame, or silence. The ones who have been told they aren’t enough—by society, by their families, or by the voices in their own heads. The ones who think they should just give up.

But the truth is, those are the exact moments when transformation is possible. When someone believes, even for a second, that they can rewrite their story, everything shifts. That single moment of possibility—no matter how fleeting—can be the turning point. It’s when a person who has felt stuck in the same patterns of self-doubt or despair begins to imagine that maybe, just maybe, things don’t have to stay the way they’ve always been. Change doesn’t happen all at once, but it starts with the smallest crack in the old narrative. The same way the Eagles rewrote theirs over the last few decades—by refusing to accept the story that had been handed to them and instead proving, through persistence and belief, that they were capable of something greater.

That’s why this win was about more than football. It was about hope. It was about proving that the impossible is, in fact, possible. It was about Philly showing the world—and itself—that being an underdog doesn’t mean you stay down. It means you fight harder. It means you keep going, even when no one expects you to succeed. It means you carry the weight of doubt and still find a way to break through.

This victory wasn’t just about a team winning a championship; it was about a city reclaiming its sense of worth. It was about every person who has ever felt underestimated realizing that their story isn’t over. That no matter how many times they’ve been told they can’t, there is always the possibility that they can.

And that’s exactly why I do what I do. Because I believe in the parts of people that have been counted out. The parts that are waiting to rise. The ones that have been told they are too broken, too far gone, or too much to handle. The ones who have internalized the idea that they are destined to pointlessly struggle. But just like Philly, just like the Eagles, they are capable of rewriting their story. And when they start to believe that—even for a moment—everything changes.

What parts of you are waiting to rise?

Through approaches like EMDR, we can process the trauma and limiting beliefs that keep you stuck, helping you unlock your potential and rewrite your own story. If you're ready to start your journey of transformation, reach out—I’d love to work together and help you uncover the strength and resilience you already have inside.