Christie: ‘Not getting into tiff with Eagles fans’

In the wake of a fiery backlash on social media after cheering on the Dallas Cowboys in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Gov. Chris Christie said it's no secret that he's a fan of the team.

"I'm a Cowboys fan. This is the worst kept secret in America," Christie said Monday night during Townsquare Media's December edition of "Ask The Governor."

The New Jersey governor was seen sharing a luxury box with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones during Sunday's game against the Eagles. Angry fans of the Philly team, who may not have known of the governor's loyalty to the Cowboys, sparked a firestorm on social media after Christie was seen giving Jones a high-five during the game.

Christie - who greeted U.S. troops earlier in the day with President Barack Obama at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, said even the president talked with him briefly about his "adventures in Philadelphia" Sunday night.

"Eagles fans are really passionate. That's great, they were fired up last night," Christie said, adding that if the Eagles hadn't lost, the backlash wouldn't have been as significant.

The governor, a longtime Cowboys fan, admitted that he was having fun at the game.

"I'm a big Dallas Cowboys fan. I have been since I was 9 years old. I'm not going to sit there and pretend like I'm not enjoying myself," Christie said on Ask The Governor. "When the Cowboys aren't winning, I'm not enjoying myself."

The governor admitted that he celebrated with Jones a few times during the game.

"I'm sitting with the owner of the Cowboys and the Cowboys score a touchdown, what am I supposed to do?" Christie said. "When Dez Bryant scored his third touchdown last night...burning the Eagle defensive back, you can bet your life I'm high-fiving Jerry Jones."

Christie said he's a kind-hearted, compassionate guy and refuses to "get into some tiff with Eagles fans."