In an era where loyalties are less about the region you live in and more about your favorite team or favorite player, who are the most popular NFL teams?
Most Popular NFL Teams
There are 32 NFL teams hailing from 23 different states around the U.S. Let’s take a look at the most popular NFL teams when looking into factors including Twitter followers, the number of Google searches and franchise relevancy.
10. New York Giants
Although the Giants’ 1.9 million Twitter follower count is dwarfed by others on this list, they are based in the largest TV market in America. They’re also one of the most valuable franchisesin the league.
Four Super Bowl victories will help any football franchise become one of the most popular NFL teams. The Giants 2008 and 2012 championships in particular against the Patriots’ dynasty helped the Giants gain a lot of new fans.
The excitement of superstar players like Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley in a Giants jersey over the years has helped skyrocket their marketability and popularity on a global level.
The five most popular NFL teams in the UK, according to YouGov.
1. Miami Dolphins
2. New York Giants
3. Chicago Bears
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. New England Patriots pic.twitter.com/Jv4bS8LcnG— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 17, 2020
9. Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are one of the most popular NFL teams. The Seahawks crowd, known as the “12th Man”, are among the rowdiest in the NFL and shows just how passionate Seattle fans are.
The “12th Man” even created an earthquake during one of the biggest playoff upsets in NFL history – the 2010 NFC Wildcard Playoffs victory over New Orleans. Three Super Bowl appearances and a championship win has helped the franchise achieve over 2.5 million Twitter followers and are extremely popular across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
8. Kansas City Chiefs
Historically the Kansas City Chiefs fan base has been rather insular and doesn’t have the support like other teams across America. Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes has changed all that and the Chiefs are now one of the most popular NFL teams, further fuelled by their Super Bowl LVII victory in 2023.
Mahomes has more than the Chiefs’ 2.1 million Twitter followers thanks to his freakish play and the popularity of the franchise will keep on going up with him under center. He’s not only a cultural sports hero in Kansas City, Mahomes is leading what some are calling a “black quarterback revolution“.
7. Denver Broncos
AFC West heavyweights the Denver Broncos are one of the most popular NFL teams. Players like John Elway and Peyton Manning have made them a must-watch team in the past.
A total of 8 Super Bowl appearances and three wins has earned them a load of fans and the Broncos have over 2.7 million Twitter followers. Denver has sold out every home game since 1973 and a poll back in 2014 had the Broncos more popular than the Dallas Cowboys. Are they the real “America’s Team”?
The NFL’s most popular team is no longer the Dallas Cowboys. It’s the Denver Broncos » http://t.co/AUBLuUErXq pic.twitter.com/Gcr4irnOgW
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 15, 2014
6. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers may be done but Green Bay moves on. Lambeau Field remains one of the best NFL stadiums in the country and the four time Super Bowl champions are one of the oldest franchises in the league. Despite Green Bay being the smallest market team in American major sports the Packers are still one of the most popular NFL teams.
Although Green Bay has a population of just over 100,000, Lambeau Field has been sold out for every home game since 1960. There are over 2.5 million followers on Twitter. So engaged is the Packers fanbase, 84% of all adults in Green Bay are fans. So significant are the Packers, the Lombardi Trophy was even named after Green Bay legend Vince Lombardi.
The last time a #Packers game at Lambeau Field was NOT sold out? Nov. 22, 1959 – Lombardi’s first year, in a game against the #Redskins. 297 tickets went unsold that Sunday. Since then, the Packers have a streak of 350 sellouts at home.
— Mike Clemens (@MikeClemensNFL) August 7, 2020
5. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have over 2.3 million Twitter fans and are one of the most popular NFL teams. Former superstars like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Steve Young have earned them fans, with fandom passing on through to the next generations.
It helps that the 49ers have won five Super Bowl titles, and it’s fair to say that 49ers fans expect greatness on a regular basis from their team. Even during the real tough times, a large part of the fan base always remains loyal, and it’s easy to just bring up the successes of the past again.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia fans across all sports are known for being extremely passionate, loud and unforgiving. Eagles fans are no different but their team is one of the most popular NFL teams.
The Eagles Super Bowl victory in 2017 saw a boost in popularity for the franchise and they currently have more than 3.6 million Twitter fans. But the popularity of the team is rooted deep in family traditions in the city, with fanfare passed down through the generations.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are tied with the Patriots for most Super Bowls with six. The Pennsylvania franchise is one of the most popular NFL teams with over 3.7 million Twitter supporters. Fans are known as “Steeler Nation” and since the 1970s, the franchise has built a huge fanbase nationally thanks to their success.
Pittsburgh has sold out every home game since 1972. At away games, Steelers fans often outnumber home fans, likely because of an exodus of Pittsburgh locals across America when the local steel industry collapsed. Pittsburgh still however remains one of the best sports cities in America.
#SteelersNation has us feeling like this was a home game!! 💪#HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/VF7r0cC8AY
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 9, 2019
2. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are based in Foxborough and represents Boston, the best sports city in America. The Patriots won six Super Bowls during the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era to become the greatest dynasty in history.
That’s helped Robert Kraft’s Patriots become one of the most popular NFL teams as their sustained success has seen the franchises brand recognition and value skyrocket. On Twitter, the Patriots have over 4.6 million followers. The Pats are also one of the most hated teams because of their success as well as their history of cheating.
New England are the most followed team on Twitter, and just behind the Cowboys as the most valuable NFL franchise.
1. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are the most popular NFL team and it makes sense as they are also the most valuable franchise in the league. Jerry Jones’s Cowboys are worth over an eye watering $8 billion.
Known as “America’s Team” since the late 70’s the Cowboys have had some of the most entertaining NFL players, are the most searched NFL team on Google, matching the biggest fan base in America, and earning the title for most popular NFL team.
Cowboys games at AT&T Stadium (and Texas Stadium previously) have been sold out since 2002, and with over 4.3 million followers on Twitter there’s a huge legion of fans wanting the franchise to add to their five Super Bowl championships.
Related
As a seasoned sports enthusiast with a comprehensive understanding of the NFL landscape, let's delve into the intricacies of the most popular NFL teams discussed in the article. My expertise extends beyond the surface-level statistics, encompassing the historical context, fan culture, and the impact of key players on team popularity.
1. New York Giants:
- Twitter Followers: 1.9 million
- Key Factors: Largest TV market in America, four Super Bowl victories, iconic players like Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Odell Beckham Jr., and Saquon Barkley.
2. Seattle Seahawks:
- Twitter Followers: Over 2.5 million
- Key Factors: Passionate fan base known as the "12th Man," notable playoff upsets, three Super Bowl appearances, and a championship win.
3. Kansas City Chiefs:
- Twitter Followers: 2.1 million
- Key Factors: Traditionally insular fan base transformed by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Super Bowl LVII victory in 2023, Mahomes' influence on the "black quarterback revolution."
4. Denver Broncos:
- Twitter Followers: Over 2.7 million
- Key Factors: AFC West heavyweight, historical success with 8 Super Bowl appearances and three wins, sold out every home game since 1973.
5. Green Bay Packers:
- Twitter Followers: Over 2.5 million
- Key Factors: Small market team with a sold-out Lambeau Field since 1960, four-time Super Bowl champions, strong fan engagement (84% of adults in Green Bay are fans).
6. San Francisco 49ers:
- Twitter Followers: Over 2.3 million
- Key Factors: Former superstars like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young, five Super Bowl titles, a loyal fan base expecting greatness.
7. Philadelphia Eagles:
- Twitter Followers: Over 3.6 million
- Key Factors: Extremely passionate fan base, popularity boost after the 2017 Super Bowl victory, deep-rooted fan traditions passed down through generations.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers:
- Twitter Followers: Over 3.7 million
- Key Factors: Tied with the Patriots for most Super Bowls (six), "Steeler Nation" fanbase, sold out every home game since 1972, strong national following.
9. New England Patriots:
- Twitter Followers: Over 4.6 million
- Key Factors: Six Super Bowl wins during the Belichick-Brady era, sustained success, the most followed team on Twitter, controversial history.
10. Dallas Cowboys:
- Twitter Followers: Over 4.3 million
- Key Factors: Most valuable franchise in the league (worth over $8 billion), iconic as "America's Team" since the late '70s, consistently sold-out games since 2002, five Super Bowl championships.
This analysis encapsulates the multifaceted aspects contributing to the popularity of each NFL team, providing a comprehensive overview grounded in both statistics and the rich narratives that define the league's history.
