10 Most Popular American Football Teams and Why
Ella Burch
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One thing can be said for sure: the NFL season is here as football enthusiasts start building their fantasy football teams and pulling out their favorite player’s jerseys from the closet.
Supporters will go to the stadium or turn on their screens in anticipation of their team lifting the Lombardi Trophy on February 23, 2023, as the race to Glendale, Arizona, and Super Bowl 57 gets underway. Even though some teams have little chance of winning a championship, that won’t alter the adoration and devotion devoted fans feel for their club.
Although some teams have larger fan bases than others, “America’s team,” the Dallas Cowboys, is the most popular team in the nation, at least according to online searches. These are the most popular American football teams, ranked.
10. New York Giants
Even though the Giants are headquartered in the biggest TV market in America, their 1.9 million Twitter followers pale in comparison to those of other teams on this list. They rank among the league’s most valuable franchises as well.
To become one of the most popular NFL teams, a football franchise needs to win four Super Bowls. The Giants attracted a lot of new supporters thanks in part to their championship victories in 2008 and 2012 over the Patriots’ dynasty as one of the most popular American football teams.
Over the years, the enthusiasm surrounding famous players wearing Giants jerseys—like Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Odell Beckham Jr., and Saquon Barkley—has contributed to the team’s increased marketability and global appeal.
9. Seattle Seahawks
The NFL’s most well-liked team is the Seattle Seahawks. The “12th Man,” or Seahawks crowd, is renowned for being among the NFL’s rowdiest, which demonstrates the fervor of Seattle’s support base.
During one of the biggest surprises in NFL history—the 2010 NFC Wildcard Playoffs triumph against New Orleans—the “12th Man” even caused an earthquake as one of the most popular American football teams. Thanks to three Super Bowl appearances and a title win, the team has amassed over 2.5 million Twitter followers and has great popularity in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
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8. Kansas City Chiefs
Unlike the fan bases of other teams around America, the Kansas City Chiefs have historically been quite exclusive. All that has changed thanks to NFL superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has guided the Chiefs to become one of the most well-liked teams in the league after winning Super Bowl LVII in 2023.
Thanks to his incredible play, Mahomes has more Twitter followers than the Chiefs (2.1 million), and the team’s popularity will only grow with him at the center of one of the most popular American football teams. In Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes is not just a beloved athlete but also the leader of a movement known as the “black quarterback revolution.”
7. Denver Broncos
One of the most well-liked NFL teams is the Denver Broncos, heavyweights in the AFC West. They used to be a must-watch squad because of players like Peyton Manning and John Elway.
With eight Super Bowl appearances and three victories, the Broncos have amassed a large fan base and more than 2.7 million Twitter followers. Since 1973, every home game played in Denver has been sold out, and according to a 2014 poll, fans preferred the Broncos to the Dallas Cowboys as one of the most popular American football teams. Do they truly represent “America’s Team”?
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6. Green Bay Packers
Even if Aaron Rodgers is done, Green Bay continues. The four-time Super Bowl champions are among the league’s oldest teams, and Lambeau Field continues to rank among the greatest NFL stadiums in the nation. The Packers are among the most well-liked NFL teams even though they play in the smallest market in all of American professional sports.
For every home game since 1960, Lambeau Field has been sold out, despite the fact that Green Bay has a population of just over 100,000. On Twitter, there are more than 2.5 million followers as one of the most popular American football teams. With 84% of all adults in Green Bay being supporters, the fan base for the Packers is extremely engaged. The Packers are so important that Vince Lombardi, a legend in Green Bay, is honored with the Lombardi Trophy.
5. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are among the most well-liked NFL clubs, with over 2.3 million followers on Twitter. Stars from the past, including Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young, have gained followers who continue to support them into the future generations as one of the most popular American football teams.
The 49ers’ five Super Bowl victories certainly help, and it’s safe to say that their supporters consistently demand excellence from their club. A sizable portion of the fan base never wavers, even in the most trying times, and it’s simple to keep bringing up the prior victories.
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4. Philadelphia Eagles
All sports supporters from Philadelphia are renowned for being incredibly fervent, boisterous, and unforgiving. Although they play for one of the most popular teams in the NFL, Eagles fans are no different.
Following their 2017 Super Bowl triumph, the Eagles gained greater notoriety, and as of right now, they have over 3.6 million Twitter followers as one of the most popular American football teams. However, the team’s enduring appeal stems from a long history of family customs in the city, with fandom being handed down through the years.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
With six Super Bowl victories, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Patriots are tied for the most. The squad from Pennsylvania is among the most well-liked NFL teams, with more than 3.7 million followers on Twitter as one of the most popular American football teams. The franchise has amassed a sizable national fan base since the 1970s as a result of its success; this group is referred to as “Steeler Nation.”
Since 1972, Pittsburgh has had all of its home games sold out. Steelers supporters frequently outnumber home supporters during away games, most likely as a result of Pittsburgh residents leaving the city after the collapse of the local steel industry. Pittsburgh, though, continues to rank among America’s top sports cities.
2. New England Patriots
Based in Foxborough, the New England Patriots are a representation of Boston, the greatest sports city in the United States. During the Bill Belichick and Tom Brady era, the Patriots won six Super Bowls and established themselves as the greatest dynasty in history.
Because of their consistent success, Robert Kraft’s Patriots have witnessed a sharp increase in both brand awareness and franchise value, making them one of the most well-liked NFL clubs as one of the most popular American football teams. The Patriots have more than 4.6 million followers on Twitter. Because of their past of cheating and current success, the Pats are also among the most despised teams.
New England is the NFL team with the second-highest valuation, the Cowboys being the most followed team on Twitter.
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1. Dallas Cowboys: Most Popular American Football Teams
Given that they are the most valuable franchise in the league, it seems natural that the Dallas Cowboys are the most popular NFL team. The Cowboys owned by Jerry Jones are valued at an astounding $8 billion.
The Cowboys, who have been dubbed “America’s Team” since the late 1970s, have featured some of the most entertaining players in the league, are the most Googled NFL team, have the largest fan following in the country, and are therefore the most popular NFL team.
Since 2002, Cowboys games at AT&T Stadium (formerly known as Texas Stadium) have been sold out, and the team has a sizable fan base of over 4.3 million on Twitter who want to see them add to their five Super Bowl victories as one of the most popular American football teams.
Google Trends data from 2017–2022 shows that throughout the previous five years, the Cowboys were the most searched-for NFL team.
Despite the fact that Dallas hasn’t won a Super Bowl during that period, their ranking as the most sought-after team strengthens their reputation as “America’s team” going into the 2023–2024 campaign.