The NFL is massively popular throughout the U.S., yet many states don’t have a single team within their borders. Meanwhile, several states boast two, even three teams.
So which states are blessed with so much great pro football to choose from? And could there be hope for some states to finally get their second or even their very first team any time soon?
Most U.S. states have a single NFL team
Of the 32 NFL football teams in the United States, 15 have an entire state to themselves, according to 1keydata:
- Arizona has the Arizona Cardinals, who are in a great position in the NFC West thanks to quarterback Kyler Murray.
- Colorado, of course, has the Denver Broncos on their way back to prominence with quarterback Russell Wilson on board.
- Georgia has the Atlanta Falcons with a new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, bringing his Tennessee Titans style to the team.
- Illinois is home to one of the oldest NFL teams, the Chicago Bears.
- Indiana has the Indianapolis Colts, who acquired quarterback Matt Ryan earlier this year.
- Louisiana is home to the New Orleans Saints, a consistent threat in the NFC South.
- Massachusetts hosts the New England Patriots, in the process of finding their identity post-Tom Brady.
- Michigan is home to the Detroit Lions, who are struggling to gain their footing in the NFC North.
- Minnesota has its beloved Vikings, who face the process of rebuilding their approach to offense.
- Missouri has just the Kansas City Chiefs left after once being a two-team state.
- Nevada has become a hotspot for sports, now hosting the Las Vegas Raiders.
- North Carolina has the Carolina Panthers representing their two-state region.
- Tennessee has the Titans repping the whole state, rather than one city.
- Washington has the Seattle Seahawks, currently building for what comes in the post-Wilson era.
- Wisconsin has the Green Bay Packers, the only NFL team owned by their fans.
Several states have two or more NFL teams
Some states enjoy more than one, or even multiple teams, according to AS:
- California has become the go-to place for teams threatening their local markets with relocation. The Los Angeles Rams, Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers all call the Golden State home.
- Florida is a huge football hotspot, so it’s unsurprising it supports three teams. The Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, and recent Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers satisfy the many fans in the region.
- Maryland is a smaller state, but their football fandom is ravenous enough to support both the Baltimore Ravens and nearby Washington Commanders.
- New York/New Jersey is a region noted for multiple teams in essentially every notable spectator sport. The NFL is no different, with enough local fans to support the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and New York Jets.
- Ohio is home to one of the oldest and most epic regional NFL rivalries thanks to hosting both the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.
- Pennsylvania has the other great East Coast rivalry, with fans split between the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Texas adores football at every single level, so it’s no surprise they have enough support for both the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans.
The NFL is popular nationwide but many states have no team of their own
Twenty-eight states have no NFL team at all. However, it’s not as bad as it looks in some regions, though. South Carolina doesn’t have a team within its borders, but the Panthers do claim to represent the Palmetto state as well.
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont all fall under the intended umbrella of the New England region represented by the Patriots. Many people within those states choose to support other teams, however, due to the heavy Boston-area culture surrounding the team.
The following unlucky states lack an NFL team to call their own:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
The bulk of these NFL-free states have some fairly obvious teams to support. They also often have strong support for their college football programs with high attendance to match. The NFL is the most popular sport in the U.S., but there is much more to football than just the biggest pro league.
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