NFL fans are some of the most passionate in sports, but their emotions can sometimes run too high, leading to unsportsmanlike behavior.
From rowdy hecklers and foul-mouthed supporters to bottle-hurlers and field rushers, which NFL fan bases are the worst behaved in the league?
With the 2024-25 NFL season underway, aGamble.com, a sportsbook and online casino and sportsbook comparison site, took a closer look at rude behavior both on and off the field. We surveyed football fans across the country to uncover the worst-behaved fans, coaches, and players in the NFL.
Key highlights:
- According to survey respondents, the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Las Vegas Raiders claim the top three spots for “rudest” fans in the NFL.
- Rudest Coaches: Sean Payton (Denver Broncos), Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers), and Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles).
- Rudest Quarterbacks: Aaron Rogers (New York Jets), Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns), and Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys).
- Worst Fan Behaviors: Standing up/blocking view (59%), spilling beer/drinks (51%), cutting in line (48%), using profanity (45%), and blocking the aisle (44%).
Top 10 Rudest NFL Fans
#1. Philadelphia Eagles
Don’t let the “City of Brotherly Love” moniker fool you. According to survey respondents, Philadelphia Eagles fans are the rudest in the NFL. Respondents noted that Eagles fans are notorious for starting fights, earning them the top spot in our “rudest fans” ranking.
#2. Dallas Cowboys
From tossing bottles and debris at NFL officials to boastfully bragging about their team, Dallas Cowboys fans have a reputation for unsportsmanlike behavior. According to respondents, Cowboys fans rank as the second-rudest in the league. But perhaps fans might be following their team’s lead—Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was also ranked as the third-rudest quarterback in the league by respondents.
#3. Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders fans have been notorious for bad behavior well before the team made its move to Las Vegas. Viral fan altercations are well-documented, and it seems Raiders fans are embracing the “Sin City” moniker a little too literally. According to respondents, Raiders fans are the third worst-behaved in the league. Perhaps it’s due to pent-up frustrations, given that the team hasn’t made a Super Bowl appearance since 2003.
#4. New England Patriots
When it comes to fans behaving badly, the New England Patriots clinched a spot within the top five rudest fans in the league. According to respondents, Patriots fans are guilty of drinking too much, earning them the No. 4 spot in our ranking.
#5. Pittsburgh Steelers
You might want to bring along your earmuffs the next time you’re at a Pittsburgh Steelers game, and not just because of the city’s cold winter temperatures. According to respondents, Steelers fans are the most foul-mouthed in the league, earning them the No. 5 spot on our “rudest” NFL fans ranking.
Rounding out the top ten rudest NFL fans are the Green Bay Packers (No. 6), Chicago Bears (No. 7), New York Giants (No. 8), Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9) and the Buffalo Bills (No. 10).
Rudest NFL Fan Behaviors
If you’ve ever attended an NFL game, there’s a good chance you’ve witnessed less-than-ideal fan etiquette. Whether it’s someone blocking your view of the game, spilling beer, heckling, cursing, or all the above happening simultaneously, bad behavior is all too uncommon.
But which behaviors are considered the most offensive?
According to respondents, 59% say standing up and blocking the view is the rudest behavior followed by spilling beer or drinks (51%), cutting in line (48%), using profanity (45%), and blocking the aisle (44%).
So, if you’re heading to an NFL game this season, it’s a good reminder to at least try to be mindful of your fellow fans.
NFL Teams with the Most Penalties
Along with ranking bad behavior off the field, we also analyzed bad behavior on the field by looking at NFL teams with the most penalties.
Whether it’s holding, roughing the passer or unsportsmanlike conduct, no team has racked up more penalties within the last 10 seasons than the Las Vegas Raiders (formerly the Oakland Raiders).
From 2013 to 2023, the Raiders received 1,280 penalties, resulting in 10,837 penalty yards. That’s more than 108 football fields’ worth of lost yards due to penalties. Maybe the Raiders’ poor behavior on the field explains why the team’s fans rank third among the rudest in the league?
Coming in at a close second place in terms of penalties are the Seattle Seahawks. Since 2013, the Seahawks have been issued 1,258 penalties, totaling 10,625 penalty yards. Despite the team’s track record of poor behavior on the field, Seattle’s fans rank relatively low on our list of rudest fans, at No. 20.
Rounding out the top five teams with the most penalties are the Buffalo Bills (1,233 penalties), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1,225), and the Cleveland Browns (1,208).
Which teams are most likely to be on their best behavior on the field? It’s none other than the New England Patriots, who have been issued just 1,010 penalties over the last 10 seasons. However, if the 2015-16 “Deflategate” scandal were included in the rankings, perhaps the Patriots would be ranking slightly higher on the list.
Rudest NFL Coaches
When it comes to rude behavior, some NFL coaches and players are setting the example.
Along with asking football fans to rank the worst-behaved fan bases, we also asked respondents which head coaches and starting quarterbacks are guilty of rude behavior.
According to respondents, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton takes the top spot as the “rudest” coach in the league. Close behind him are Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers), Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles), John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens), and Mike McCarthy (Dallas Cowboys).
Rudest NFL Quarterbacks
Whether they’re playing unfairly on the field or acting ill-mannered off it, NFL players are prone to exhibit rude behavior from time to time. But according to sports fans, Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets takes the top spot as the rudest quarterback in the league. Interestingly, fans also voted Rogers as the league’s most “thin-skinned” quarterback as well.
NFL Fans with the Thinnest Skin
Having thick skin and being able to take criticism is a necessity in a full-contact sport like professional football. However, some fan bases tend to be more easily offended than others.
According to respondents, the top five “thin-skinned” fanbases in the NFL are the Dallas Cowboys (No. 1), New England Patriots (No. 2), Kansas City Chiefs (No. 3), Philadelphia Eagles (No. 4), and the Chicago Bears (No. 5).
NFL Coaches and Players with the Thinnest Skin
When comparing the rudest coaches with the most thin-skinned, a few names make repeat appearances. Mike McCarthy, Sean Payton, John Harbaugh, and Jim Harbaugh all rank within the top five for both categories, according to sports fans. Although he didn’t rank among the top five rudest coaches, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid climbed to the No. 5 spot on the list of thin-skinned coaches.
This year’s NFL season is sure to bring viral moments both on and off the field. Whether you’re attending a game this season in person or watching at home, you can get in on the action with these sportsbook promo codes and casino offers from legal betting sites like DraftKings, BetMGM, BetRivers, Borgata, and Bally Casino.
Methodology
In August 2024, we conducted a nationwide survey to gather insights into the perceived behavior of NFL fans, head coaches, and starting quarterbacks. The survey sample comprised 1,200 participants who regularly watch the NFL, selected from diverse demographic backgrounds across the United States. Demographics: The survey respondents included 42% females, 57% males, and 1% identifying as non-binary/non-conforming. The average age of the respondents was 42 years. Limitations: The survey responses rely on self-reporting, which may be subject to recall bias or social desirability bias.
Sources: NFL, Pro Football Reference
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