H.A. Hang: Zach Berman, Senior Writer at The Athletic

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Home Appétit: Besides actually being on the Eagles, you pretty much have every Philly kid’s dream job. When did you decide this is what you wanted to do?
Zach Berman: Honestly, I was one of those annoying 12-year-olds who knew exactly what I wanted to do. I used to read The Philadelphia Inquirer over breakfast and the Philadelphia Daily News over lunch. On Wednesdays, I would get the mail and read Sports Illustrated cover-to-cover, finishing by the weekend. I listened to sports talk radio on the way to school and while falling asleep at night. I read just about any sports book I could get my hands on as a kid. I would watch Daily News Live on Comcast SportsNet. I studied press row at 76ers games. (“There’s Stephen A. Smith! There’s Phil Jasner!”) This was what I always wanted to do—and I wanted to do it here, in Philadelphia. 

Where did you grow up? 
I grew up in the Philly suburbs. I went to college at Syracuse University, spent two years at The Washington Post living in Washington D.C. and Charlottesville, VA, lived in Hoboken while covering the New York Giants for the Star-Ledger, and then returned to Philadelphia in 2011.

Covering the Eagles is an exciting job in a passionate football town—what’s the most surreal or memorable moment you’ve experienced on the job?
Definitely covering the Eagles’ first Super Bowl—and the second one, for that matter. Both were unique, made even more memorable by the opponent and the context of the games. The first one stood out because I knew the significance of that moment. I remember seeing the cover of The Inquirer when the Phillies won in 1980. Writing the game story for the Eagles’ first Super Bowl is one of the great honors of my life. 

You are an author as well as a reporter. How many books have you written?
I’ve written three. The first one, "UNDERDOGS", is about the first Super Bowl season. The second one, "The Franchise: Philadelphia Eagles", is a curated history from 1999-2023 (with a special chapter added in the paperback for the 2024 season). The third book, "Leap Year", is about the second Super Bowl season. 

It’s not lost on me that I’ve experienced the good fortune of covering the franchise during its most successful period. Had I been an Eagles reporter for the first 51 years of the Super Bowl era, I never would have covered a championship team. 

But it’s also important to note that a championship does not necessarily make a good story. Both Super Bowls had dramatic story arcs given how they reached that point and the opponent they played. There were such compelling characters on the team. These books are not a rehash of stats and events; you learn the backstories of the players, coaches and executives; how the teams were built; and the challenges and obstacles that were encountered. It was a joy to chronicle those teams.

Favorite team besides the Eagles?
Any team my son is on. My emotional investment comes when I see the ball in the air and my son is the intended target. I’ve talked to hundreds of parents of college and professional athletes throughout the past two decades. I could not possibly imagine how they felt in the Super Bowl considering the way my heart was beating during an 8-year-old flag football championship. 

When you aren’t on the clock, where do you like to eat and hang out? Some of your favorite spots around town?
I love to eat—especially in Philadelphia. My favorite food is pizza. My top spot is Tacconelli's in Port Richmond. (My wife has thrown me two birthday parties there.) My favorite restaurant for a night out is Vernick Food and Drink. My favorite cheesesteak is probably Johnny’s in Bryn Mawr or Angelo’s. I will never turn down water ice at John’s on Christian Street. 

And finally, my wife would tell you I’m not being honest if I don’t mention chocolate chip cookies. Give me the cookies at the Urban Outfitters cafeteria in the Navy Yard or at Vernick Coffee Bar in the Comcast building.

Keep up with Zach's reporting on The Athletic, Instagram, or X. You can purchase his books here.