The Most Annoying NFL Fans According to Fans

One of the unfortunate realities of attending a live NFL game is that occasionally, you’ll have to put up with the poor behavior of annoying fans. The most annoying NFL fans have a reputation that far exceeds them, whether it’s through loud or obnoxious chanting, endless gloating, or baffling traditions that seem to be acceptable only to them. In this guide, we’ve explored the 10 franchises that are notorious for producing the worst fan bases.
Who Are the Worst Behaved NFL Fans?
In an effort to stay neutral, we’ve devised our ranked list of the worst-behaved NFL fans after researching fan forums, online articles, and surveys. But what constitutes poor behavior? This guide kicks off with a brief explanation of common actions that game attendees complain about.
From there, we’ve then provided our team rankings. It should come as little surprise that the Eagles fans are at the top of the list, with fans of the Patriots, Cowboys, and Raiders making expected appearances too.
- Behind Our Rankings
- The Philadelphia Eagles
- The Dallas Cowboys
- New England Patriots
- Las Vegas Raiders
- The Pittsburgh Steelers
- The Buffalo Bills
- Green Bay Packers
- Kansas City Chiefs
- The Chicago Bears
- San Franciso 49ers
Behind the Worst NFL Fan Bases Ranked
There are several reasons why some fan bases have gained reputations for being among the most annoying fans. In some instances, it’s because the fans are believed to be arrogant or smug, whether it’s deserved or not. In other cases, the fan bases have been involved in controversies, whether it be violent confrontations or abuse of players’ on-field.
We referred to several sources when compiling this list of the worst NFL fan bases ranked, and found that in almost all cases, these 10 teams were listed. Some have gone as far as to say that they avoid seeing live games if it means being in the same stadium as annoying dans. Thankfully, the ability to bet on live NFL games means that plenty of fun can be had watching games at home.
The Philadelphia Eagles
The followers of the Eagles are almost unanimously agreed to be the worst fans in the NFL. They have a reputation for being crass, aggressive, and unapologetic, with rival fans often dreading the experience of visiting a game at Lincoln Financial Field. Often, this is intensified by a strong culture of feeling like the underdog, even if they’re winning.
Eagles fans have been involved in several controversies over the years. This includes booing and throwing snowballs at Santa Claus in 1968 and climbing light poles after winning Super Bowls in 2017 and 2025. The Veterans Stadium even had a basement jail to detain unruly fans!
The Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are considered to be among the most disliked in the league due to a perceived sense of smugness and superiority. The fans have even nicknamed the team “America’s Team”, which has further fueled their opponents’ resentment. Furthermore, the ownership style of Jerry Jones is viewed as excessive, with the huge AT&T Stadium nicknamed “Jerry World.”
Another criticism that has been leveled at Cowboys fans is that they are “bandwagon supporters”, meaning they only support the team during periods of success. Nevertheless, the Cowboys have perhaps the world’s most passionate fanbases, known for throwing the best NFL tailgates and making the team the most valuable in the world.
New England Patriots
The dislike of the Patriots’ fans reached new heights during the two-decade Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era. As the Patriots dominated the competition, the team attracted a legion of bandwagon fans who became known for their arrogant gloating. Belichick’s mantras such as “Do Your Job” and “The Patriot Way” became particularly hated by opponents.
During this era, the Patriots were also embroiled in controversies such as “Spygate” and “Deflategate”, which gave the team a reputation for unsportsmanlike behavior. Followers’ dismissal of these criticisms was considered to be entitled, and with their incessant, “Brady! Brady!” chants, they became known as the most annoying NFL fans for some time.
Las Vegas Raiders
Going by the name of “Raider Nation”, the Las Vegas Raiders have long had a reputation for being among the worst-behaved NFL fans. Owing to the working-class population of its former home in Oakland, Raiders’ fans developed a self-image as outlaws and renegades, donning intimidating costumes and face paint to show their support.
The team’s embrace by heavy metal bands and gangsta rap groups has also added to the team’s edgy mystique. Chants of their pirate-themed “Autumn Wind” anthem have also received ire for being menacing and over-the-top. Over the years, fans have been involved in violent incidents, especially when arch-rivals the 49ers are playing.
The Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers fans have a reputation for being among the most loyal, with the “Steeler Nation” known to follow the team to away games at every opportunity. As six-time winners of the Super Bowls, Steelers fans are renowned for regularly bragging about their achievements and are considered to be pretentious despite their apparent working-class roots.
Among their despised traditions are their “Terrible Towels”, the “Renegade” song, and “Here We Go Steelers” chants. There have also been several controversial players for the team over their history, with fans’ wholehearted defense of them coming across as deluded or hypocritical.
The Buffalo Bills
With the nickname “Bills Mafia”, the Bills are often high on people’s lists of the most annoying NFL fan bases ranked. Many of their despised antics are visible well before games have started, with their tailgates renowned for creating scenes of destruction and other obnoxious behavior.
Their celebrations are also known to be grating, with their “Shout” song performed after touchdowns and self-belief that they are the best fans mocked by opponents. Infamous traditions include shirtless celebrations during freezing temperatures and the regular meetings of players at the airport when coming home from away games.
Green Bay Packers
While their nickname of “Cheeseheads” by Packers fans is considered ridiculous by rivals, their willingness to embrace it is almost just as annoying. As some of the most annoying NFL fans, they are known to have a sense of superiority over others, partly due to widespread team ownership through the public shares system.
Performances of the Lambeau Leap are widely copied by fans at their outdoor tailgates, while their nickname of “Titletown USA” about their 13 Championship wins is derided by many. However, Packers fans are also lauded by some for their embrace of the game’s traditions and their sense of community ownership.
Kansas City Chiefs
While Chiefs fans long slipped under the radar, their recent successes have empowered fans to become far more annoying than they were before. Shouts of “Chiefs!” during the national anthem haven’t helped their cause, while the “Tomahawk Chop” chant is considered to be culturally insensitive.
Arrowhead Stadium has broken noise level records due to its passionate fans, while traditions such as “Red Friday” tend to be viewed as excessive. Other areas of contention surround the media saturation of players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, with some believing their praise as some of the best all-time players is biased or unearned.
The Chicago Bears
One of the most annoying elements that is cited by haters of Bears fans’ is their perceived fixation on past glories. These include claims of being a charter NFL franchise and reminiscing about their glory years in the 1980s. Their bravado performances are also considered to be unjustified considering their recent form.
Fans’ pride in their team’s ability to play in difficult conditions at Soldier Field, the “Bear Down” chant, and “Super Bowl Shuffle” are considered to be rooted in nostalgia too. However, there is also an element of perceived frustration among fans, with the base considered to be among the most unhappy in the league.
San Franciso 49ers
While some of the fans on this list are disliked because of their perceived over-commitment to a working-class underdog narrative, the 49ers fans are criticized for their ties to the elites. The team’s placement near Silicon Valley and significant relationships with tech giants haven’t helped quell this reputation.
While there has been praise for the team’s fans, known as “The Faithful”, for their passion, they have also earned a reputation for violence and misconduct. There have also been criticisms leveled about the fans being “whiners” or entitled rather than wholeheartedly loyal.