In the world of the NFL, fandom runs deep, and with that passion comes a set of strong opinions.
The team at the Action Network has conducted a survey of football fans across the country, revealing some heated takes on everything from the most annoying fan bases to off-field personalities that grind their gears.
We surveyed over 3,000 football fans, asking the following questions:
- Which NFL team’s visiting fans do you find the most annoying?
- Which behaviors do you find the most annoying while attending an NFL game?
- How much do you agree or disagree that your actions during game week can affect the performance of your NFL team?
- Which NFL player do you find the most annoying off of the field?
Here’s a breakdown of the results and what they reveal about the dynamics between NFL teams, their fans, and the game's biggest stars.
Cowboys Fans Are Officially the Most Annoying Visitors
When it comes to visiting fans, the Dallas Cowboys’ reputation precedes them, and not in a good way. A resounding 20% of surveyed NFL fans voted the Cowboys as the most annoying visiting fan base. Cowboys fans are known for being loud, which seems to rub rival fans the wrong way. This sentiment holds across party lines.
Democrats were even more vocal about their disdain, with 23% of them naming Cowboys fans as the worst offenders., compared to just 17% of Republicans.
| Most Annoying Team | Democrat NFL Fan Response |
| Dallas Cowboys | 23% |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 9% |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 8% |
| Green Bay Packers | 7% |
| New England Patriots | 6% |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5% |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5% |
| Chicago Bears | 3% |
| San Francisco 49ers | 3% |
| Buffalo Bills | 3% |
| Most Annoying Team | Republican NFL Fan Response |
| Dallas Cowboys | 17% |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 9% |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 8% |
| Green Bay Packers | 7% |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6% |
| New England Patriots | 5% |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5% |
| Chicago Bears | 4% |
| San Francisco 49ers | 3% |
| New York Giants | 3% |
On the other hand, fans of the Philadelphia Eagles (9%), Las Vegas Raiders (8%), and Green Bay Packers (7%) were also cited as irritating. Still, none quite reached the same level of universal annoyance as Cowboys Nation.
What Behaviors Drive NFL Fans Crazy?
Attending an NFL game is an event, but certain behaviors can take the fun out of the experience. Over half of the respondents (52%) agreed that obstructing their view is the most annoying in-stadium behavior. Whether it’s someone standing at the wrong time or blocking the action, fans simply don’t want their line of sight interrupted.
| Behavior | Vote Share |
| Obstructing your view | 52% |
| Yelling at/taunting other fans | 50% |
| Cursing/inappropriate language | 46% |
| Spilling food/drinks | 39% |
| Not standing/removing hat for the national anthem | 37% |
| Repeatedly entering and exiting their seats/going back and forth | 35% |
| Yelling at the team | 21% |
| Over-the-top public displays of affection | 18% |
| Loud chewing | 15% |
| Midgame proposals | 10% |
Other frustrations include yelling at or taunting other fans (50%) and cursing or inappropriate language (46%), with Democrats finding yelling particularly grating (53%). Food and drink mishaps like spilling (39%) and repeated seat exits (35%) rounded out the list of fan frustrations.
Interestingly, certain behaviors strike a chord more with specific fan bases. For example, fans of the Denver Broncos (31%), Tennessee Titans (27%), and Cincinnati Bengals (25%) can’t stand excessive public displays of affection during the game, suggesting that these crowds prefer to focus on the action on the field rather than the couples in the stands.
| Fan Base | Over-the-top public displays of affection |
| Denver Broncos | 31% |
| Tennessee Titans | 27% |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 25% |
| Indianapolis Colts | 23% |
| Carolina Panthers | 23% |
Patriotism and Superstition Are Strong Among Certain Fanbases
A significant number of NFL fans (37%) expressed frustration when others fail to stand or remove their hats for the national anthem. Fans of the Indianapolis Colts (49%), Minnesota Vikings (48%), and Denver Broncos (46%) were particularly adamant about this, with these teams leading the charge as the most patriotic fan bases in the league.
| Fan Base | Not standing/removing hat for the national anthem |
| Indianapolis Colts | 49% |
| Minnesota Vikings | 48% |
| Denver Broncos | 46% |
| Green Bay Packers | 45% |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 44% |
| Houston Texans | 43% |
Superstition also runs deep for many fans. While 35% of NFL fans believe their actions during game week can influence their team’s performance, this sentiment is especially prevalent among fans of the Tennessee Titans (49%), Buffalo Bills (45%), and Atlanta Falcons (44%). Younger fans, particularly Gen Z, were also more inclined to buy into these game-time rituals, with 27% of 18-24-year-olds agreeing that their midweek activities impact their team's success.
| Fan Base | Either strongly or somewhat believe their actions influence results |
| Tennessee Titans | 49% |
| Buffalo Bills | 45% |
| Atlanta Falcons | 44% |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 44% |
| Indianapolis Colts | 44% |
These fan bases also turn their noses up at mid-game proposals, with Jaguars fans liking these displays the least.
| Fan Base | Midgame proposals |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 19% |
| Denver Broncos | 17% |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 16% |
| New York Giants | 16% |
| Arizona Cardinals | 16% |
Aaron Rodgers: The NFL’s Most Annoying Player
Off the field, no one irritates fans quite like Aaron Rodgers. The Green Bay Packers quarterback topped the list as the most annoying player, with 27% of respondents naming him the most frustrating NFL personality. The sentiment cuts across different age groups and fan bases, but older generations are especially vocal about their dislike for Rodgers. In fact 43% of Chicago Bears fans — perhaps predictably, given the Packers-Bears rivalry — named Rodgers their least favorite player.
Following closely behind was Travis Kelce, with 17% of fans finding the Kansas City Chiefs tight end just as irksome. Kelce’s high-energy persona might not sit well with some, especially younger fans, as the 18-24 age group ranked him the most annoying player (21%).
Methodology
The research was commissioned by the Action Network and carried out online by Research Without Barriers (RWB). The survey was conducted between July 31-Aug.5, 2024, and the sample comprised 3,013 USA NFL fans.
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You can find the full breakdown of results here.
All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2023) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. RWB is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (2018).
