The Buffalo Bills’ fanbase – better known as #BillsMafia – is one of, if not the best fanbases in the NFL. They support their team in such unique ways and, while every fanbase has their traditions, there’s something about #BillsMafia that takes the meaning of ‘tradition’ and ‘support’ to a whole new level.
That uniqueness was on full display during the team’s Week 15 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. When the team scored an early touchdown to take a 7-3 lead, fans started throwing snowballs into the endzone as part of a TD celebration. They received some criticism for it, but they were having fun.
In the final minutes of the game, with the score tied 29-29, the Bills started to drive down the field in hopes of making a game-winning field goal. During the two-minute warning, with snowfall at its peak, the PA system played ‘Let It Snow’ and the entire stadium started singing along – they ended up winning.
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How Does #BillsMafia Rank Among the Best Fanbases in the NFL?
There’s no fanbase quite like #BillsMafia – that’s a given. They’re easy to hate because they find joy in any situation, win or lose. At the same time, they can be just as easy to love because they come together in times of need and have, on several occasions, shown the world the power behind standing in unity.
And they often show it in the form of donations:
- Fans donated more than $450,000 to Andy Dalton’s charity after the Bengals helped the Bills end their 17-year playoff drought.
- Fans donated more than $1 million to a children’s hospital in honor of Josh Allen’s grandmother when she died.
- Fans donated more than $9 million to Damar Hamlin’s charity when he suffered cardiac arrest in the middle of a game.
- Fans donated more than $120,000 when Tre’Davious White tore his ACL during a Thanksgiving Day game.
- Fans donated more than $450,000 to Lamar Jackson’s charity after he went down with an injury during a playoff game – which the Bills won.
- Fans donated nearly $200,000 to Dawson Knox’s charity after learning his brother passed away.
- Fans also have fun with it, donating more than $65,000 to the Visually Impaired Advancement after refs missed an easy pass interference call, which cost the Bills a win.
BillsMafia is one big family that has been through a lot of dark times together, so you can expect them to act out a little when things go right. And, while things have been going right the past few seasons, they know when it’s time to stop the party and unify. That’s why they’re one of the best fanbases in the NFL.
With that said, let’s take a look at the league’s best fanbases, as it stands right now.
20. Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have gone through some tough years since their epic letdown against the Patriots in Super Bowl LI and they might’ve ranked 30th in the NFL in home game attendance percentage (92.8%), but the fanbase is still very much behind their favorite team – despite five consecutive losing seasons.
In terms of social media, the Atlanta Falcons have 2.4 million followers on Twitter, 1.2 million followers on Instagram, and 1.9 million likes on Facebook – totaling a reach of 5.5 million users on social media. With back-to-back 7-10-0 seasons, you have to think this team is just a quarterback away from contention.
19. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have long been the laughing stock of the NFL and things got even worse when they signed Deshaun Watson to that massive contract, but the fanbase isn’t going anywhere and actually has some things to be happy about – like ranking No. 10 in the NFL in home game attendance (100.0%).
On social media, the Browns boast 1.5 million followers on Twitter, 1.3 million followers on Instagram, and 1.3 million likes on Facebook – totaling 4.1 million users on social media. They’ve missed the playoffs two years in a row and have only been once in the past 20 seasons, but they should be back very soon.
18. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are notorious for giving their fans hope all regular season long, just to have them flop when the playoffs come. It’s exactly what happened this season when they made the playoffs for the first time in three years after a 13-4-0 record, just to lose to the Giants 24-31 in the Wild Card Round.
The good news is the team ranked No. 8 in home game attendance in 2022 at 100.3% – their stadium was filled beyond capacity regularly. They also boast 1.5 million followers on Twitter, 1.2 million followers on Instagram, and 2.0 million likes on Facebook – totaling a reach of 4.7 million users on social media.
17. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers changed cities ahead of the 2017 season, moving from San Diego to Los Angeles. While they definitely lost a lot of fans in the process, they also gained a lot of fans and are among the middle of the pack (No. 18) in the NFL in home game attendance percentage (97.8%).
As far as social media is concerned, the Chargers have 1.0 million followers on Twitter, 1.0 million followers on Instagram, and 1.4 million likes on Facebook. Their fanbase is growing stronger every year and they have Justin Herbert to thank for that – how can you hate the guy. He’s definitely a keeper.
16. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have consistently been a playoff team since entering the league in 1996 – they’ve made the playoffs in 14 of their 27 seasons and have made it in four of the past five seasons. While fans don’t have a lot to complain about, they certainly might if the front office doesn’t extend Lamar Jackson.
The Ravens ranked No. 14 in home game attendance percentage (99.8%) – their fans showed up more often than not. The team boasts 1.8 million followers on Twitter, 1.6 million followers on Instagram, and 2.2 million likes on Facebook – totaling a reach of 5.6 million users on all major social media platforms.
15. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers had the highest home game attendance percentage in the NFL this past season at a whopping 104.6%. They had a total of 644,661 fans attend their nine home games and averaged more than 71,000 fans per home game. It’s no secret that 49ers’ fans show out when their team’s in town.
Their fans also show out on social media with the 49ers boasting 2.4 million followers on Twitter, 2.8 million followers on Instagram, and 3.9 million likes on Facebook – totaling a reach of more than 9.1 million users on social media. They receive support both on and off the field, which is all they can ask for.
14. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have struggled mightily since Cam Newton left and have missed the playoffs five years in a row and six out of the last seven seasons. They also ranked just 22nd in the league in home game attendance (96.7%) and had 642,167 total fans attend home games in 2022 – 71,351 per game.
The team boasts 3.0 million followers on Twitter, 1.8 million followers on Instagram, and 2.1 million likes on Facebook – totaling a reach of over 6.9 million users on social media. The team might be several years away from contention – if they can get a quarterback – but they’ll have the support either way.
13. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos were the laughing stock of the NFL this past season – something no one had on their 2022 bingo card. They were expected to take a giant leap forward with new QB Russell Wilson, but ended up taking a huge step backward. And while fans are noticeably angry, they aren’t going anywhere.
The Broncos ranked No. 13 in the NFL in home game attendance (99.8%) and had 607,845 fans show up to their 8 home games – an average of 75,980. They also boast 2.7 million followers on Twitter, 1.3 million followers on Instagram, and 3.9 million likes on Facebook – totaling 7.9 million social media followers.
12. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders’ fanbase took a gigantic hit when they moved from Oakland to Sin City, but they’re still some of the most intense fans in the league. That’s because their die-hard fans – the real fans – never left and they, honestly, don’t mind making the trip every weekend (when possible, of course).
With that said, the Raiders ranked 26th in the NFL in home game attendance (95.5%) and had 496,363 fans show up to their eight home games. They boast 1.9 million followers on Twitter, 2.1 million followers on Instagram, and 3.2 million likes on Facebook – totaling 7.2 million followers on social media.
11. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints have come a long way since the 1980s, when fans were putting brown paper bags over their heads – out of pure embarrassment for the team. While fans were embarrassed, they weathered out the storm and finally got to see some quality football over the past two decades.
The team ranked just 24th in the NFL in home game attendance (96.1%), which is expected for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in two years. They also boast 1.7 million followers on Twitter, 1.9 million followers on Instagram, and 3.9 million likes on Facebook – totaling more than 7.5 million followers.
10. New York Giants
The New York Giants have always had a loyal fanbase, but the team has been very hard to follow over the past decade – entering the 2022 season, they missed the playoffs in 9 of the previous 10 years. Of course, fans had a lot to cheer for this year as they not only made the playoffs, but secured a playoff win.
The only major knock against this team is their 92.7% home game attendance percentage – they had 688,266 fans show up to their nine home games. They boast 2.0 million followers on Twitter, 2.6 million followers on Instagram, and 3.6 million likes on Facebook – totaling 8.2 million followers on social media.
9. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are one of the most recognizable teams in all of football and have some of the most loyal fans in the league. They don’t care how cold it is, how much snow is falling, or how bad their team is playing – fans are going to show up. Don’t worry, it appears they might finally have their QB of the future.
The team ranked 19th in home game attendance (97.3%) with 538,410 fans showing up to their eight home games – not bad, considering their harsh weather. They boast 2.0 million followers on Twitter, 1.5 million followers on Instagram, and 3.7 million likes on Facebook – totaling 7.2 million followers.
8. New England Patriots
New England Patriots’ fans are some of the most spoiled fans in all of sports and, while it’s easy to call them ‘fair weather fans,’ they’re much more than that. In fact, they’re as loyal as any other fanbase and take great pride in their team – even though Tom Brady isn’t around to win them a title every year.
The Patriots ranked No. 11 in the league in home game attendance last year (100.0%), totaling 527,024 fans at their eight home games. The team boasts 4.7 million followers on Twitter, 4.8 million followers on Instagram, and 6.6 million likes on Facebook – totaling a reach of over 16.1 million users on social media.
7. Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks easily have one of the loudest fanbases in the league and it makes it difficult for opposing teams to play in their stadium – which is exactly what you want from your fans. And even with the team trading away their franchise quarterback (Russell Wilson), the fans had plenty to cheer for.
The Seahawks ranked No. 9 in the NFL in home game attendance in 2022 – totaling 619,491 fans at their nine home games this year. They boast 2.5 million followers on Twitter, 3.1 million followers on Instagram, and 3.7 million likes on Facebook – totaling a reach of more than 9.3 million users on social media.
6. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have had a worthy team for several seasons now, but always seem to come up short in the playoffs – they haven’t appeared in the NFC Championship or Super Bowl since winning it all in 1995. During that span, the team is just 5-12 in the playoffs and have gone through six head coaches.
And while they ranked just 29th in home game attendance (93.5%), a big reason why is because they have the third-largest stadium in the NFL. They boast an incredible 4.3 million followers on Twitter, 4.4 million followers on Instagram, and 8.3 million likes on Facebook – totaling over 17.0 million followers.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
Patriots’ fans used to be the most spoiled team in the NFL, but that award goes to the Kansas City Chiefs’ fanbase – they can expect to see their team in Super Bowl contention for the next 10+ years, if not more. And while the Seahawks used to have the loudest stadium, that award goes to the Chiefs, as well.
Kansas City ranked 7th in the NFL in home game attendance (100.8%) with 587,997 fans showing up to their eight home games. The team boasts 2.2 million followers on Twitter, 2.4 million followers on Instagram, and 1.9 million likes on Facebook – totaling a reach of over 6.5 million users on social media.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
The PIttsburgh Steelers have what we call ‘fan goals’ – the type of fans most teams wish they had. While the team has missed the playoffs in three of the past five seasons, they’re never that far off from a playoff berth and always find a way to keep themselves in it – a good recipe for keeping fans happy and satisfied.
The Steelers ranked 20th in home game attendance (96.9%) with 530,243 fans showing up to their eight home games – an average of 66,280 per game. They boast 3.7 million followers on Twitter, 3.4 million followers on Instagram, and 5.9 million followers on Facebook – totaling a reach of 13.0 million followers.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are as passionate as any other fanbase and it usually pays off as the team finds a way to stay in contention year-in and year-out. They most recently won the Super Bowl in 2018 and have a chance at winning it again after a dream season that ended with a 14-3 record – best in the NFC.
The Eagles ranked 12th in home game attendance (100.0%) with 628,828 fans showing up to their nine home games – an average of 69,869 fans per game. They boast 3.7 million followers on Twitter, 2.5 million followers on Instagram, and 3.1 million likes on Facebook – totaling 9.3 million followers.
2. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers’ fanbase doesn’t care what the weather looks like – they will watch their team in the freezing cold if they have to. They’re home to some of the worst weather conditions in the league, but still manage to fill 96.5% of their stadium with 685,623 fans in nine home games during the 2022 season.
And while the Packers missed the playoffs for just the third time since 2009, fans aren’t giving up on their team – though they’re preparing for life without Aaron Rodgers in a few years. The team boasts 2.5 million followers on Twitter, 2.5 million followers on Instagram, and 5.1 million likes on Facebook.
1. Buffalo Bills
As we mentioned in the intro, the Buffalo Bills are the most passionate, loyal, and supportive fanbase in the NFL. They come together like no other team in the league and have stayed by their team’s side despite years of disappointment – they missed the playoffs 17 years in a row between 2000 and 2016.
The Bills ranked just 25th in the league in home game attendance (95.5%) with 547,450 showing up to their eight home games. They boast 1.6 million followers on Twitter, 1.5 million followers on Instagram, and 1.0 million likes on Facebook – totaling a reach of just 4.0 million users on all social media platforms.
Who Are the Best Fanbases in All of Sports?
It sounds cliche, but a professional sports team is nothing without its fans – literally and figuratively. Without a loyal and active fan base, franchises won’t have the attendance and sales to support the team financially. Not only that, but fans are what make it all worth it for the players that make up that team.
The Buffalo Bills clearly have one of the best fanbases – not just in football, but in all of sports. Other teams, not listed above, with loyal fanbases include the Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Lakers, St. Louis Cardinals, Golden State Warriors, Boston Red Sox, New York Knicks, and Vegas Golden Knights.
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Of course, this is always a very sensitive and opinionated subject. It doesn’t matter who your favorite team is or what city the team represents, everyone thinks their fanbase is the best fanbase. At the end of the day, the best fanbases in the world are willing to stick by their team no matter what – through thick and thin.
Recent Study Gives Insight Into the Most Loved NFL Teams of 2022 – Let’s See How They Rank!
A recent study published by Betway is helping football fans answer one of the league’s most burning questions today – which teams are the most loved NFL teams of 2022? The results are quite shocking and you’ll never believe who ranked No. 1 – hint, hint, they have the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The report measured each team’s ‘likeability’ through social listening, which monitored and analyzed the amount of positive online sentiment surrounding each team over a 12-month period to determine the most loved NFL teams of 2022. The publication cited the use of Linkfluence social listening in their findings.
The tool utilizes data on social media mentions across the internet related to a certain topic – in this case, NFL teams. They were then ranked based on who’s talked about positively the most online. While there’s no definitive way to determine the most loved NFL teams, this report gives an interesting perspective.
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Ranking the Most Loved NFL Teams of 2022, According to Betway
It’s no secret that some NFL teams have a bigger presence on social media than others – just like the news, certain teams receive more exposure and are talked about more frequently than others. With that said, having a large presence on social media doesn’t always mean that presence is positive or uplifting.
For example, the Dallas Cowboys are the clear No. 1 in terms of sheer social media support – they boast more than 18 million followers across all social media accounts. Only three other teams have more than 10 million followers, yet none of them are ranked No. 1 among the most loved NFL teams of 2022.
The team that takes the cake is one you wouldn’t expect – they’re certainly a team with history in this league and they definitely have a loyal fanbase, but you wouldn’t think they’re the most loved team in the NFL. Without further ado, let’s see what Betway’s study taught us about NFL teams on social media.
32. Carolina Panthers
Team Likeability: 6.63%
Total Following: 7.9 million
The Carolina Panthers had a rough 2022. They were already uncertain about the QB position, but lost Sam Darnold and rookie Matt Corral to injuries in the preseason. After the Baker Mayfield experiment didn’t work, they released him and turned to Darnold – who led them to a 4-2-0 record in the final six games and finishing the season with a 7-10-0 record. To make matters worse, social media hates them.
31. Arizona Cardinals
Team Likeability: 6.76%
Total Following: 4.2 million
The Arizona Cardinals were hoping to do big things in 2022, but things quickly went sour – Kyler Murray only played in 11 games and the return of DeAndre Hopkins wasn’t enough to save the season. They finished 4-13-0 and only won one of their nine home games. As a result, they saw their best pass rusher J.J. Watt retire and watched their coach buy a one-way ticket to Thailand after being fired. Yikes!
30. Minnesota Vikings
Team Likeability: 6.80%
Total Following: 2.4 million
The NFL community wasn’t ready for what the Minnesota Vikings would do in 2022. Social media wasn’t necessarily on their side, but they didn’t need it. They finished the season 13-4-0, winning the NFC North and going 11-0-0 in one-score games – an all-time record in the NFL. Unfortunately, their luck ran out in the playoffs, losing to the New York Giants in the Wild Card Round just a few days ago. How tragic!
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
Team Likeability: 7.16%
Total Following: 2.4 million
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been the laughing stock of the NFL the past few seasons and their ranking on this list tells a bit of that story. It looked like 2022 was going to bring much of the same as the team went 2-6-0 in their first eight games, but they got the last laugh after winning their final five games and then completing a historic comeback in the Wild Card to advance to the Divisional Round.
28. Washington Commanders
Team Likeability: 7.85%
Total Following: 4.2 million
The Washington Commanders began the year with a new quarterback in Carson Wentz, but that didn’t go well after a 2-4-0 start to the season. The team stayed afloat most of the season, but fell apart later in the year. You’d think with all the drama surrounding owner Dan Snyder and the toxic work environment he created, the Commanders would rank last on this list – but No. 28 is fitting also. Hopefully they rebound!
27. Buffalo Bills
Team Likeability: 8.92%
Total Following: 4.2 million
The Buffalo Bills have one of the greatest and most loyal fanbases in all of sports. While they’re known for spreading kindness through donations made across the NFL, they also get a little rowdy at times and that might be why they land so low on this list. That doesn’t matter to the city of Buffalo, though – they’re the city of good neighbors and they’ll always have each other’s back, even if social media wants to hate!
26. Tennessee Titans
Team Likeability: 9.37%
Total Following: 3.5 million
The Tennessee Titans fell back to Earth in 2022 after finishing last season as the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They started the season 0-2-0 and while they won 7 of their next 8 games, they lost the final 7 games of the season to end the year 7-10-0. They’re obviously not that well-liked across the league, but they might be losing some of their own fans after the embarrassing end to the season they just had.
25. Los Angeles Chargers
Team Likeability: 9.41%
Total Following: 4.2 million
The Los Angeles Chargers are still trying to build a loyal fanbase after making the move to LA from St. Louis. They have some well-liked players – such as Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Keenan Williams, and several others on defense – and made their return to the playoffs this year, but it’ll be a while before they build a good rapport with the community. Of course, their recent playoff loss won’t do much to help.
24. Los Angeles Rams
Team Likeability: 9.42%
Total Following: 4.8 million
Don’t worry Chargers’ fans, the Los Angeles Rams aren’t much better off than you – according to Betway’s recent report, the Rams are only 0.01% more liked than their LA counterparts. Despite little love coming from social medai, the Rams won the 2022 Super Bowl. Unfortunately, that success didn’t last very long as they went just 5-12 to put up one of the worst cases of Super Bowl hangovers of all-time.
23. Indianapolis Colts
Team Likeability: 9.99%
Total Following: 4.9 million
The Indianapolis Colts have teased their fans over the past few seasons – bringing in veteran QBs in hopes of leading them to the promised land, just to have them stink and underperform (this year, it was Matt Ryan). As you can see, this hasn’t led to a lot of positive talk about the team on social media and it’ll only get worse after a 4-12-1 season. They lost their final seven games and lost 10 of their last 11 games.
22. Cleveland Browns
Team Likeability: 10.30%
Total Following: 5.0 million
The Cleveland Browns could easily find themselves lower on this list, considering all the drama they caused when they traded for Deshaun Watson and signed him to a mega contract amid the dozens of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior allegations made against him at the time. Nonetheless, he made his debut with the team in Week 13 and led them to a 3-3 record to close out the season.
21. Atlanta Falcons
Team Likeability: 10.5o%
Total Following: 6.4 million
The Atlanta Falcons traded away their franchise quarterback, Matt Ryan, early in the 2022 offseason, so you can’t expect a lot of positive comments from fans – that might be why they’re ranked so low here. To be honest, everyone is likely still making fun of this team for their Super Bowl blunder five years ago. They managed to finish this season 7-10-0, which is the same record they had with Ryan under center in 2021.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Team Likeability: 10.70%
Total Following: 4.7 million
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a roster full of talent and are one of the most-talked about teams in the media due to ESPN and other outlets excessively covering Tom Brady. That said, it’s understandable they might receive a little more hate than other teams on social media – most people are just sick and tired of hearing about them. Don’t worry, they finished the year just 8-9-0 and got blown out in the Wild Card.
19. Detroit Lions
Team Likeability: 10.70%
Total Following: 5.4 million
The Detroit Lions haven’t been a very successful team on the field over the past 22 years – they only have three playoff appearances since 2000 and their last playoff win came in 1991. They’re an easy team to make fun of, which is probably why they’re ranked in the bottom half in terms of team likeability. Still, they have a talented team full of competitors, making them a fun team to watch and easy team to respect.
18. Houston Texans
Team Likeability: 11.10%
Total Following: 5.4 million
The Houston Texans are the new Detroit Lions – the laughing stock of the NFL. They haven’t had a good quarterback since Deshaun Watson left ( we all know how that went) and weren’t even that good when they had him. Of course, they also saw their best receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, leave several years ago too. They now have just 11 wins over the past three seasons, so there’s not a lot to celebrate these days.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Team Likeability: 11.30%
Total Following: 8.4 million
The Pittsburgh Steelers might not rank very high here, but they’re one of the most respected franchises of all-time. They’ve always been a well-coached team and it’s a large reason why they remained relevant (somewhat) in 2022-23, despite seeing their franchise QB, Ben Roethlisberger, retire at the end of last season. You’d think social media would give the Steelers a break, but that wasn’t really the case last year.
16. Seattle Seahawks
Team Likeability: 11.70%
Total Following: 9.9 million
The Seattle Seahawks boast one of the most loyal fanbases in the entire league – they’re known for getting loud in the stadium, but apparently not so much on social media. They were initially mocked for their handling of the Russell Wilson trade, which might be part of the reason why they aren’t ranked higher, but that trade looks a lot better after their new starting QB more than played the part this season.
15. Dallas Cowboys
Team Likeability: 11.70%
Total Following: 17.9 million
That brings us into the top-half of this list, which starts with the Dallas Cowboys. Also known as ‘America’s Team,’ the Cowboys are a team you either really love or absolutely hate. They’re the NFL’s most-followed team across all social media platforms, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Nonetheless, the team finished 12-5-0 this season and will now advance to the Divisional Round.
14. Kansas City Chiefs
Team Likeability: 12.10%
Total Following: 8.2 million
The Kansas City Chiefs are the team to beat in the NFL and it’s been that way for a few years now. And while you’d think the ‘big, bad bully’ in the league would be hated on social media, they find themselves in the top-half with a 12.10% likeability rating. They once again played spoiler in 2022-23, finishing the season with a 14-3-0 record and entering the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
13. Cincinnati Bengals
Team Likeability: 12.80%
Total Following: 4.7 million
The Cincinnati Bengals won the hearts of many last year with their spectacular and clutch play in the 2021-22 playoffs. Despite having just a 10-7-0 record, Joe Burrow led his team to a 7-point win vs. the Raiders, 3-point win over the Titans, and 3-point overtime win vs. the Chiefs to earn a spot in the Super Bowl. While they lost to the Rams, it was a tight 3-point game that came down to the closing moments.
12. Las Vegas Raiders
Team Likeability: 13.30%
Total Following: 7.2 million
I’m not too sure what to think about seeing the Las Vegas Raiders rank just outside the top-10. I don’t want to say this team is hated across the league, but they’re certainly not liked and are more likely to be mocked than anything. This is a player that saw their head coach step away mid-season, had a player arrested for making threats with a gun, and had a player charged with a DUI that resulted in a death. And it didn’t get much better this season, finishing just 6-11.
11. Denver Broncos
Team Likeability: 13.40%
Total Following: 8.5 million
The Denver Broncos might rank fairly high on this list, but things might look a little different if the rankings were updated today. They entered the 2022-23 season as a Super Bowl hopeful, but finished the year just 5-12-0. Their starting quarterback, Russell Wilson, looked like a deer in headlights for most of the season and struggled to rally his team together. He’ll have to win back Broncos’ fans this offseason.
10. San Francisco 49ers
Team Likeability: 13.80%
Total Following: 9.4 million
Alright, we’ve made it to the top-ten. The San Francisco 49ers have always been a well-liked team and, while they have a lot of fans across the nation, they also seem to be a lot of people’s second favorite team (behind their No. 1 favorite team). And things are only getting better in 2022-23 – they finally have a real QB competition, their defense is one of the best in the NFL, and they have Christian McCaffrey now.
9. Philadelphia Eagles
Team Likeability: 13.90%
Total Following: 10.3 million
The Philadelphia Eagles have been in everyone’s best wishes ever since they defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl LII five years ago. They’ve made the playoffs in four of the five years since, including this season – where they entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. With a 14-3-0 record, they were tied with the Chiefs for the best record in the league and remain Super Bowl contenders moving forward.
8. Miami Dolphins
Team Likeability: 13.90%
Total Following: 5.3 million
The Miami Dolphins used to be one of the most feared teams in the league in the 1990s – making the playoffs in 9 of 12 seasons between 1990 and 2001. Unfortunately, they’ve only made the playoffs three times since (that’s over a 21-year period) and haven’t won a playoff game since 2000. And while they narrowly made the playoffs this season, they wound up packing their bags after a loss to the Bills.
7. New York Jets
Team Likeability: 16.10%
Total Following: 4.3 million
The New York Jets started to enjoy some success at the turn of the century, making the playoffs in 6 of 10 seasons between 2001 and 2010. Unfortunately, they haven’t made the playoffs since and have struggled to find a quality QB to lead them to victory. They spent a No. 3 pick on Sam Darnold in 2018 and a No. 2 pick on Zach Wilson in 2021, yet Darnold is no longer in town and Wilson was benched this season.
6. New York Giants
Team Likeability: 16.10%
Total Following: 8.6 million
The New York Giants are in a similar position as the Philadelphia Eagles – a large reason the Giants rank so high is because people are still reeling over Eli Manning beating Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Super Bowl twice (2008, 2012), one of which ended Brady’s perfect season. And while the Giants haven’t been very good since, they went 9-7-1 this season and earned their first playoff win since their Super Bowl win in 2012.
5. New Orleans Saints
Team Likeability: 16.20%
Total Following: 8.1 million
The New Orleans Saints have come a long way from seeing fans wear bags over their heads out of sheer embarrassment in the 1980s. They were consistently one of the worst teams in the league for a while, but eventually dug themselves out of the trenches and have finished with double-digit victories on 10 occasions since 2000 – including a Super Bowl win in 2010. Unfortunately, they were just 7-10-0 this year.
4. New England Patriots
Team Likeability: 16.30%
Total Following: 16.9 million
I’m surprised the New England Patriots are ranked so high on this list. The only people that seem like them are Patriots’ fans – everyone else just wants to see them lose every week. And while Tom Brady is no longer in town, he’s mostly to blame for the hate they receive – after all, fans hate getting beat by the same person over and over again. Of course, Bill Belichick doesn’t make this team very easy to like, either.
3. Green Bay Packers
Team Likeability: 16.40%
Total Following: 10.6 million
The Green Bay Packers have one of the most loyal fanbases in the entire NFL – they show out in any weather conditions, no matter what month it is. Like the Patriots, they’ve been spoiled with quality QB play for nearly 20 years and have the wins to show for it. Unfortunately, the team slipped this season with an 8-9 record – the team’s worst record since 2018 – and Aaron Rodgers might’ve played his last game with Green Bay.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Team Likeability: 18.20%
Total Following: 6.7 million
As you can see by their ranking on this list, the Baltimore Ravens are well-respected across the league. They’re one of the few teams that you’re either a fan of or neutral of – the only people that seem to hate the Ravens are rivals, which is understandable. Lamar Jackson is easy to like, head coach John Harbaugh is easy to like, and they win a majority of their games with their defense – which is respectable.
1. Chicago Bears
Team Likeability: 19.70%
Total Following: 7.9 million
I don’t know about everyone else, but this one surprised me. The Chicago Bears have never been hated and are one of the more recognizable franchises in the league, but I would never expect them to be the most loved team in the NFL. They don’t play very well on the field and have just 9 wins in the past two seasons. They will, however, receive some positive press this offseason with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Oh, and Justin Fields is exciting to watch.
Most Loved Teams Across All Major US Sports
Betway didn’t stop at the NFL when analyzing the likeability of certain sports teams on social media. In fact, they included a study for each of the three other major professional sports in the US – the MLB, NBA, and NHL. Again, some of the findings might surprise you, but that’s the nature of social media.
The Chicago Bulls (20.8%) and Golden State Warriors (19.1%) were the most loved NBA teams in 2022, while the Vegas Golden Knights (30.5%) and Chicago Blackhawks (22.4%) were the most loved NHL teams. As for the MLB, it was the Chicago Cubs (22.3%) and Baltimore Orioles (20.2%) at the top.
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The report also determined that Charlotte FC was the most loved MLS team, while FC Cincinnati and Austin FC were tied for second. And just in case you were wondering, the NBA was crowned the most loved sports league – followed by the NFL, the MLB, the NHL, and the MLS coming in fifth place.
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