Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey stuns NFL fans by announcing favorite team after 50 years in rivalry vs Bradley Cooper
Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders needed all the help they could get on Sunday.
With the Philadelphia Eagles favored at home in the NFC Championship, Daniels was attempting to become the first starting rookie quarterback to reach the Super Bowl.
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A single tweet weighed heavily in Daniels' favor before kickoff.
"Hailing since 1974," posted Matthew McConaughey, who's one of Hollywood's most respected actors.
Fans were stunned to see Texan McConaughey proudly representing the Commanders -- and he had a vintage Washington Redskins jacket to prove it.
"Amazing you still have this," one fan tweeted. "That's a gem of a jacket. I have an old Starter windbreaker and some other gear I'm glad I held onto, but this is phenomenal."
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"Alright alright alright," a second fan wrote.
"Yessir, I’m with you on this one," a third fan posted. "Team Jayden all the way!"
"HTTR baby!" a fourth fan said.
The 55-year-old McConaughey announcing on the same day of the NFC Championship that he is a secret Washington supporter is news in itself.
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But the primary reason that McConaughey's picture made such an impact is that he is widely associated with the University of Texas' college football program.
McConaughey regularly attends Longhorns games and was close to the team during a recent 13-3 season that saw Steve Sarkisian's crew reach the College Football Playoff semifinals.
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The actor from Dazed and Confused, Interstellar, Wolf of Wall Street and True Detective was born in 1969.
Which means that McConaughey became a Washington fan when he was five years old.
The Redskins went 10-4 in 1974, reaching the Divisional Round.
That Washington team was coached by George Allen and featured Billy Kilmer at quarterback.
Washington has appeared in five Super Bowls, winning three.
McConaughey was apparently a fan during the Redskins' franchise-best run from 1986-92 under then-head coach Joe Gibbs.
Jayden Daniels told the NFL he was the next great quarterback as 13-year-old kid
The Dallas Buyers Club leading man is now apparently a huge Daniels fan, while rooting against Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and the NFC East-rival Eagles.
"Kept it a secret until they were good," a fan tweeted. "Alright."
While Philadelphia and Washington played for the NFC's spot in the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills battled for the AFC crown.
Actor Bradley Cooper, a well-known Eagles fan, showed up pregame to represent his team.
Rob McElhenney, co-owner of soccer club Wrexham AFC alongside actor Ryan Reynolds, is also one of the Eagles' biggest supporters.
McConaughey's team was in serious fourth-quarter trouble, despite his public support.
Philadelphia led 41-23 in the fourth quarter, while Cooper received national screen time on TV.
The Eagles finished off Daniels, Washington and McConaughey 55-23 in an NFC Championship blowout, sending Cooper's team to the Super Bowl.
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Philadelphia will face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans, setting up a rematch of the big game from 2023.
At least McConaughey still has his cherished Washington jacket.
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