The most annoying fans….
The word “fan” is short for “fanatic”, and a fanatic is defined as “excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion.” In other words, a sports fan. The loyal followers of professional sports teams offer their undying loyalty and support in ways that can be described as bizarre, sweet, crazy, logic defying, and annoying.
However, not all fans are created equal. Let’s look at the most annoying fan bases in the NFL.
32. New England Patriots
The Patriots had a remarkable run of success over 20+ years under the partnership of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady that culminated with 6 Super Bowl championships, but there are legitimate questions about their dynasty. Spygate? Deflategate? Despite those incidents, their mediocre history, and the post-Brady struggle, Pats fans are among the most bragging fans in the NFL. That incessant bragging and an almost disdain for other football dynasties, makes Pats fans the most annoying.
31. Philadelphia Eagles
Philly fans are notorious for all the wrong reasons. This is a team whose fans have cheered the career-ending injury of an opposing player (Michael Irvin), threw batteries at players, and tossed snowballs at Santa Claus!! They even had a jail AND court in their old stadium; the new stadium still has a holding cell. The bad, dangerous behavior, and lacking that championship bravado keep Eagles fans as the second most annoying group.
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30. Dallas Cowboys
Thanks to yet another officiating controversy involving the Lions, the Cowboys barely snuck away with a one-point victory to keep their NFC East division hopes intact.
With the Eagles losing at home to Arizona, Dallas now just needs a victory to win the NFC East and clinch the No. 2 seed. That’s absolutely pivotal, because it means they’d only have to play one road game max — against San Fran in the NFC title game — to reach the Super Bowl.
29. Pittsburgh Steelers
Looking at this list, it seems that winning breeds annoying fans. Enter the 6 time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Those titles and being one of the most consistent teams in the league, have created a large and annoying fan base. Pittsburgh has not had a won-loss record below .500 since 2003. Since losing records are rare, Steelers fans are always part of the conversation, which ranks them as one of the most annoying fan bases.
28. Las Vegas Raiders
For a team that has moved three times and hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 1984, Raiders fans can be very vocal. Their fans have only seen 2 playoff appearances since 2003 but their voice can be excessively bragging, and they are everywhere. Loud, bragging, and overpopulated plants Raiders fans high up on the annoying scale.
27. Kansas City Chiefs
The recent run of success for Kansas City has led to an increase in annoying fans. That’s really too bad, because the Chiefs are a likable team. Their fan base has grown with clear bandwagon jumpers. Having to listen to people that have no idea about football, including the Swifties, gloat and brag makes for an annoying fanbase.
26. Washington Commanders
Washington was once a great franchise, but things haven’t really been good in DC since 1993, yet their fans continue to show up in droves with blind loyalty. The fact that they haven’t voiced greater opposition to a failing franchise with their financial support begs the question, why? That, and the long term support for an outdated mascot, makes Washington fans one of the most annoying.
25. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens moved to Baltimore in 1996 and won their first of two Super Bowls five years later in 2001; their other title came in 2013. Here’s the problem with Raven fans. They act like they were a new franchise and had immediate success, when in fact they relocated from Cleveland. New name, but still the same mediocre history. In addition, their unbridled support of someone (Ray Lewis) that may have been involved in a double murder puts Ravens fans in the top 10 of most annoying.
24. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks kept it close with the equally desperate Steelers on Sunday, but Pittsburgh’s top players just made a few more plays in a 30-23 victory.
Seahawks fans like to consider themselves the 12th Man due to their excessive loudness at home games, but where was that raucous support during the lean years? It simply didn’t exist, which means that the Seattle fan base are bandwagon jumpers, which makes them pretty annoying.
23. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have an impressive organizational history, including 5 Super Bowl titles and numerous Hall of Fame players, but they haven’t won a Super Bowl since the 1994 season. Yet that doesn’t stop their fans from gloating about the glory days more than other fan bases. That attitude ranks Niners fans high on the annoying list.
22. New Orleans Saints
New Orleans is known for having a rabid fan base, but annoying? Yes, for one simple, recurring reason: bandwagon jumpers. Before winning the Super Bowl in 2009, Saints fans didn’t have a lot to root for. But with their recent success, along with a sympathetic view of the city after Hurricane Katrina, it seems like the number of Saints fans has exploded. Like several other teams on our list, the fair weather fans are annoying.
21. Green Bay Packers
Packers fans usually rank among the better bases in the league. The fact that many of them own stock in the team certainly adds to that. However, there is one major annoying trait among the Cheeseheads. It’s the idea that the Packers are the ideal franchise, and every other team should be like them. That attitude ranks them among the most annoying fan bases.
20. New York Giants
For those that are not in the New York City metro area, the Giants rule the football landscape there. They are like the successful big brother to the “can’t get it together” little brother Jets, and Giants fans act like it. Despite never being a true dynasty, New York fans certainly act like it. Add in that fans ignore the fact the team plays in New Jersey, and one can see why the Giants have an annoying fanbase.
19. Denver Broncos
Denver is a beautiful city, but that will not prevent Broncos fans from earning a high ranking on our list. There are two primary reasons for this placement. The first is that the fans rioted after Denver won their first Super Bowl. The other reason is that, in 2014, they started a petition to ban Phil Simms from announcing the teams games. Perhaps if Broncos fans grow a thicker skin, they may not be as annoying.
18. Chicago Bears
In a 2021 study, Bears fans were rated as one of the biggest complainers in the NFL. According to the survey, the biggest complaints against them was their use of a victim mentality and constant complaining about the referees. While Chicago has been enduring a prolonged dry spell on the field, they are still one of the most legendary teams in the league. However, due to the constant complaining Bears fans are annoying.
17. Buffalo Bills
For a franchise that has seen their fair share of loss and heartbreak, you would think Bills fans would be a sympathetic group. You’d be wrong. Being the only true New York team, there is a level of annoyance among Bills fans, but the disappointment they have suffered keeps them from being higher on the list.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is another franchise that has suffered through years of horrendous football (remember the Steve DeBerg years?) but is almost ignored by the fans due to some recent success. Let’s call it Tom Brady Syndrome. The arrival of the star quarterback, and a Super Bowl title, has brought some of the same annoying attitude to Bucs fans. It’s not at the level it was in New England, but it’s there, which places Tampa in the lower half of the list.
15. Carolina Panthers
North Carolina is known for its southern charm, which certainly helps fans of the Panthers from being viewed as too annoying. The fan base has one of the lowest arrest-per-game averages in the league, but not all is perfect. Fans have exhibited bad behavior: booing one opposing player after an injury and throwing trash at another after he fought with a Carolina player. That behavior prevents Panthers fans from being higher on our list.
14. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals were lured from St. Louis to the desert in 1987. The problems in Arizona extend from the field through the community, and that includes the fans. While the organization failed for many years to give the team a permanent home, the fans do not provide support. In 2022 the Cards ranked towards the bottom of the league in attendance, which is an annoying trait for the fan base.
13. Los Angeles Rams
The biggest gripe against Los Angeles fans is that they show up late, leave early, and are generally a disinterested bunch. The Rams left LA once before and if their fans aren’t careful, it could happen again, especially with the Chargers now in town. That indifferent attitude is the most annoying trait of their fan base.
12. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have some annoying fans despite being another team with little success over the course of their existence. Look no further than the mayor of Cincinnati bragging on social media before the team lost to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game. What saves Bengals fans from a worse ranking is the way they rallied around Damar Hamlin after his heart stopped.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
Before the recent on-field success in Jacksonville, the fans didn’t seem to care about the team. In fact, at one point there was talk of moving the team to London. It remains to be seen if there will be long term support for the Jags, so for now, we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, and keep them on the less annoying side.
10. New York Jets
Poor, poor Jets fans. It’s bad enough that they get less respect than the Giants in their home market, but the Jets really are one of the most snakebit teams. Look at this year: the team brought in Aaron Rodgers and were considered a Super Bowl contender, until Rodgers was lost for the season in Week 1. Yet they remain one of the most optimistic fanbases in sports. Jets fans may have their dreams crushed every year, but for them, every year springs eternal, and that optimism makes them one of the least annoying fans.
9. Tennessee Titans
In a 2023 article titled “One word that describes every NFL fan base”, the word used for Titans fans was “meh”. While “meh” is not the word one would typically want used to describe them, it doesn’t mean annoying. The same article also ranked Tennessee fans as one of best in the league. A devoted but “meh” fanbase just can’t rank high on any annoying list.
8. Atlanta Falcons
The biggest problem with Atlanta fans is their perceived lack of interest. According to data rankings, the city is one of the worst for football. That rank seems too low, as Atlanta is a great city that typically supports their sports teams. The team was in the Super Bowl only 8 years ago, and the fans are much more passionate than they are given credit for, which makes them one of the better fan bases in the league.
7. Houston Texans
The Lone Star State is known for ‘Texas hospitality”, and that extends to the fans in Houston. In a 2022 study of NFL fans, the Texans fan base was found to be one of the most sportsmanlike and the 2nd least rude fans in the league. While Texans fans aren’t as perfect as the poll suggests, they still seem to lack the full on annoying factor.
6. Miami Dolphins
Miami fans are a generally relaxed bunch, of course who wants to move in that heat and humidity? Dolphins fans have seen a lot of poor teams over the last 20+ years and haven’t had much to root for since the days of Dan Marino. Perhaps the team’s recent success will move Phins fans lower on the list, but for now, they are not really an annoying group.
5. Detroit Lions
During the Super Bowl era, the Lions have only made the playoffs in 12 seasons, and only once were their appearances in back-to-back years. Detroit seems to be the lovable losers of the NFL and that extends to their fans. It’s hard to find a group of loyal fans (which they are) who constantly suffer disappointment to be annoying.
4. Indianapolis Colts
There’s a very welcoming attitude about the Midwest, and that feeling spreads to the fans in Indianapolis. From 1995-2020, the Colts only missed the playoffs 8 times and won a Super Bowl, but their fans are not an annoying bunch. They don’t brag like many of the other teams on the list, which makes Colts fans one of the best.
3. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are one of several teams to never win a Super Bowl and have not played in the big game since the 1976 season. While they have made several trips to the playoffs throughout the years, their fans have not had much to root for. It’s almost like they have a beaten down feeling about them, which prevents them from reaching any level of annoyance.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
Do the Chargers even have fans in Los Angeles? That is not meant to be an insult. The Chargers are new to Los Angeles, having only moved there from San Diego 6 years ago. Perhaps it’s best to let them develop a true fan base before deciding if they are annoying or not.
1. Cleveland Browns
Cleveland has some of the most loyal fans in the NFL despite not having much success. They have never been to a Super Bowl and their original team moved out of town. Despite the constant heartache, Browns fans constantly show up to support their team. That loyalty makes them the best fans in the NFL.
