After the NFL games on Sunday, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles secure their spots in Super Bowl 59, fans of the New York Giants and Jets were reminded of what might have been as the Empire State Building lit up in red and green, representing the NFC and AFC champions.

To the dismay of many New Yorkers, the Empire State Building’s X account posted on Sunday evening, stating, “I’m sorry I have to do this. Shining in @Eagles colors to celebrate their NFC Championship victory.”

The Chiefs and Eagles are set to clash on February 9 at the Caesars Superdome located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Responding to the Empire State Building’s message, the Eagles’ X account remarked, “Green looks great on you, Empire State Building.”

The Eagles are heading back to the Super Bowl just two years after their narrow defeat to the Chiefs, 38-35, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Earlier in 2023, the famous New York landmark also displayed green when the Eagles defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-7 to claim the NFC Championship.

The last Super Bowl appearance for the Giants was in 2012, where Eli Manning’s team triumphed over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots with a score of 21-17. The Jets, however, have a much longer wait, having last played in a Super Bowl in 1969 when Joe Namath and his teammates beat the Baltimore Colts (now the Indianapolis Colts) 16-7.

Regardless, New Yorkers, including city officials, are struggling to accept that they must watch the Eagles compete for a Super Bowl while their own teams are stuck in a championship limbo. Adding to the frustration, former Giants star running back Saquon Barkley joined the Eagles during the offseason.

New York City DOB ‘rushing to the Empire State Building’

In reaction to the Empire State Building’s social media update, the New York City Department of Buildings’ X account declared, “DOB inspectors are being immediately sent to the site to check out whatever the (expletive) this is…”

While it seems the city office is making a light-hearted comment, numerous New Yorkers did not find it funny, expressing their displeasure on X. Comedian Michael Rapaport shared a two-minute video suggesting that New York City should have shown acknowledgment to the Philadelphia Eagles “by being entirely disrespectful.”

‘They can’t wait for the Jets indefinitely’

As New Yorkers express their annoyance, other social media users are lightheartedly mocking the Empire State Building’s display of green and red lights.