Establishing this classification is necessarily a challenge because there is a constant risk of falling into subjectivity; but I will still try to venture there but not without a serious compass. My compass will not have 4 cardinal points, but 4 different criteria to avoid any personal sensitivity that would lead me to ignore one team or to favor another:


                1. The number of consecutive sold-out matches


                2. Loyalty when the team is in distress


                3. The presence of fans during away games.


                4. The inventiveness of the fans in terms of costume, dance or other attributes.


Since I did not consider that clothes do not make the best fan, I assigned a coefficient of 0.5 to the 4th category which favors inventive fans but not necessarily numerous or loyal.


Definitions of criteria and sources

1. The number of consecutive sold-out matches.


In order to establish this ranking I took the figures drawn up at the end of last season. This therefore does not take into account the “black-outs” of this season, but that does not change much because the teams which are struggling to fill their stadium this season (Jacksonville, San Diego…) are the same as in previous seasons.


2. Loyalty to the team when results don't follow


The 10 in each category

The 10 in each category

In order to establish this ranking, I relied on a ranking made in 2009 by ESPN. This ranking was established following a poll of 12 ESPN journalists / bloggers and was decided by the computer in the event of a tie.

3. The presence of fans during away games.



As the first criterion this figure is rather objective because it is based on 2009 data released by the NFL in its attendance report. It obviously takes into account the fans who travel halfway across the country to follow their team and the "local" fans who support the visiting team (in other words a Cowboys fan who lives in New York and visits his team at the Meadowlands). The idea is to counterbalance teams that are ultra-supported at home but have few fans outside of town or state (like the Redskins).


4. The inventiveness of the fans in terms of costume, dance or other attributes.


It's a little more subjective, but there are clearly some fans who make up mind-blowing costumes and others who just put on the team jersey. To tell the difference between the “colorful” teams, it suffices to see who has the most colorful people in their stands.


 



The results

If we weight the ranking by giving 10 points per 1st place, 9 points per second place and so on we arrive at this ranking:


1. Tied: Green Bay Packers

To be shirtless in Lambeau: a sacred performance

To be shirtless in Lambeau: a sacred performance

Since 1960, Green Bay has played its sold-out matches; but it has not been all success in 50 years at Lambeau Field. In addition, the fans are the "owners" of the team and no other team has such a large fan base for its population. In addition the "Cheese-heads" can boast of being recognizable all over the world with their wacky disguises with cheese on the head.



1. Tied: Pittsburgh Steelers

What would a fan be without his Terrible Towel?

What would a fan be without his Terrible Towel?

Steelers fans travel up and down the United States every weekend to support their team, despite Pittsburgh being a relatively small city (bigger than Green Bay, yes, but not Philadelphia or Los Angeles). It must be said that the team is "embedded" in its city: the steel industry, the Rooneys family who have owned the team since its creation, continuity in the style of play (smashmouth football), history and titles ( 6 Superbowl) have created unconditional fans. If you want to subscribe, be patient because the waiting list is 6 years minimum.


3. Washington Redskins



The pig's nose, a thirty-year-old tradition

The pig's nose, a thirty-year-old tradition

They may be the most supported home team in the league. Indeed, the Redskins (who play in a stadium 50 minutes from the first inhabited house) can count on die-hard fans even as the team has had its ups and downs. In addition, Skins fans travel quite well and like to wear their war paintings or their Hogs on opposing terrain.




4. Cleveland Browns

Les Browns sont connus pour avoir des fans ultras et quelque peu violent (ils aiment lancer des biscuits pour chiens et autres attribus canins sur les adversaires).Il faut dire que leur fanatisme vient des dures épreuves qu’ils ont subis : d’abord l’époque des Cardiacs Kids, puis le déménagement de la franchise des Browns à Baltimore. Mais plus de 15 ans après, les Browns sont toujours à Cleveland et les fans toujours aussi fanatiques… avec évidement une mention spéciale a leur déguisement traditionnel : le dawg pound.


5. Denver Broncos

A Denver, il faut se promener avec son tonneau

A Denver, il faut se promener avec son tonneau

Bien sûr les Broncos n’ont pas toujours connus le succès, mais ils sont une équipe qui remplie systématiquement son stade  depuis plus de 50 ans et dans les stades adverses il y a toujours pléthore de maillots John Elway. Seul ombre au tableau, on dit les fans un peu versatiles car certaines saisons ils se déplacent au stade, mais soutiennent mollement leur équipe.


 


Après ce top 5, viennent les équipes des Cowboys (plus large base de fans aux USA et une belle ambiance dans le stade d’Austin), les Giants (qui ont des fans dédiés à eux dans tous les Etats Unis et une longue tradition de match à domiciles avec ambiance garantie), les Eagles (dont les fans sont les plus exigeants des USA lorsque quelque chose ne leur convient pas), les Raiders (qui ont des déguisements hallucinants et comme tout le monde le sait il ne fait pas bon arboré un maillot adverse dans certaines sections du stade d’Oakland) et les Saints (qui se retrouvent là surtout par l’ambiance et la créativité vestimentaire de leurs fans).