In the world of sports fandom, loyalty is a badge of honor. However, not all fans stick with their teams through thick and thin. Some are quick to jump on the bandwagon, supporting whichever team happens to be winning at the time. Whether it’s chasing the thrill of victory or simply being influenced by a star player, bandwagon fans exist in every corner of the U.S. But which states are home to the most fickle NFL fanbases?
That’s exactly what we set out to discover. We surveyed over 2,200 sports fans to analyze fan behavior nationwide and uncover which states have the highest concentration of bandwagon fans. From NFL allegiances that shift like the wind to states that stand by their teams no matter the score, the results may surprise you.
Analyzing Bandwagon Hotspots Around the Nation
As we explore the bandwagon phenomenon, it’s clear that some states have fans who are more likely to shift their support when the tides turn. Below are the states where bandwagon fandom is most and least prevalent.
States with the Most Bandwagon Fans
Alabama ranks highest for bandwagon behavior, driven by the fact that the majority say they’re fans of their favorite NFL team because they admire specific players, coaches, or the team’s style of play — not because of any personal connections. The average fan adopted their team at age 27, nearly five years later than the national average.
Mississippi fans follow a similar pattern, with 67% willing to switch allegiances based on a team’s performance or external influences, such as star players leaving the team. This fluidity of support makes Mississippi one of the top states where fans are quick to jump ship when their teams are underperforming.
Oregon‘s NFL fans also show significant bandwagon tendencies, ranking third overall. One in five Oregon fans admit that they watch and attend more games when the team is doing well — and we respect the honesty.
Interestingly, none of the states that rank at the top for bandwagon fans are home to an NFL team. Without a home team to rally behind, fans in these areas often adopt teams from other regions, making their loyalties more fluid. Since there’s no hometown connection to a specific NFL franchise, it’s easier for fans to switch their support, which may explain why these states rank high for bandwagon fandom.
Other states that top the charts for fairweather fans include Utah, Idaho, Georgia, Hawaii, Arkansas, Florida, and Virginia, respectively.
States with the Most Loyal Fans
While some fans are quick to switch teams, others stand by their franchise no matter what.
Kansas leads the nation in fan loyalty, with 96% saying they would never switch allegiances based on performance. Kansas fans, despite facing seasons of ups and downs, remain dedicated to their teams, cementing their status as some of the most loyal fans in the country.
In an interesting contrast, Kansas City Chiefs fans are considered the least loyal of all NFL teams by other fans. Perhaps it’s due to their recent back-to-back Superbowl titles or the recent addition of pop sensation Taylor Swift to Chiefs Kingdom, but either way, the Chiefs fans based in Kansas are the real deal, while those living in other parts of the country may have more questionable loyalty.
In Pennsylvania, the connection to teams like the Steelers and Eagles runs deep. Only 17% of Pennsylvania fans report they would switch teams based on performance, with most fans having been loyal supporters since a young age.
Wisconsin‘s NFL fans are famously devoted, with the highest percentage (45%) of fans being born into their NFL team’s fandom. On average, fans in Wisconsin have supported their favorite NFL team for over 26 years, showing how deep the loyalty runs in this football-loving state.
Unlike the conflicting narratives in Kansas City, the Green Bay Packers share their broader state of Wisconsin’s threads of loyalty, coming in second for the lowest-scoring team on the bandwagon spectrum.
The remaining top 10 states in terms of loyalty include Delaware, Louisiana, Washington, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Nevada.
Deep Dive into NFL Fandom and Loyalty (or Lack Thereof)
There may be a stigma associated with fair-weather fans, but the reality is many are not hiding their inevitable status. In fact, one in five fans are self-proclaimed bandwagoners, with 26% of Gen Z proudly wearing the bandwagon status on their chest.
So what does the evolution of a fan look like throughout their lifetime? On average, people become fans of their NFL teams by age 22, but this milestone happens later for women, who typically fell in love with their football team around age 25, compared to men at 19.
But many fans don’t come to their team by chance; one in four fans are born into the fandom. For Cleveland Browns fans, this sense of inherited loyalty runs even deeper, with 45% saying they became fans because they were born into it — one of the highest rates in the league, alongside the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
Even the most loyal fans, however, often find themselves rooting for more than one team over the course of their lifetime. On average, an NFL fan backs two different teams throughout the years. While this could be due to relocation or simply growing attached to a new team, it may be a sign of bandwagon behavior.
Unsurprisingly, when asked which teams attract the most bandwagon fans, respondents pointed to the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots. On the flip side, teams like the Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, and Arizona Cardinals are much less likely to be perceived as bandwagon fans, with less than 0.5% identifying their fans as such.
Philadelphia Eagles fans are fiercely committed, with 57.1% of them saying they would never consider switching to another team, no matter what. On the other hand, New York Jets fans are more open to change — 16.7% say they’d switch teams if another franchise started performing better. In Jacksonville, one in three Jaguars fans confess they’d pick a new favorite team if their star player or coach retired.
Closing Thoughts
In the end, NFL fandom is a dynamic experience. Some fans hold tight to the teams they’ve loved since childhood, while others drift with the winds of success and influence. Whether rooted in tradition or swayed by performance, we can all agree that it’s fun to get behind a team and rally them to the finish.
No matter which team you’re rooting for this season, the BetMGM online sportsbook offers a way to get even closer to the action. Whether you’re placing bet on your longtime favorite or wagering on a rising star with NFL odds, BetMGM allows you to make every game even more thrilling.
Methodology
Our bandwagon ranking is based on how respondents answered our series of questions, with a score of 100 indicating the most possible bandwagon. These questions touched on areas such as how long they’ve been fans, how they became fans, how many teams they support, how likely they’d be to support another team, and more.
The data is based on over 2,200 survey respondents conducted in August of 2024. States not included due to insufficient survey respondents: Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming.
