Nothing brings people together like a shared hatred and the same is true in football. Rivalries make the wins sweeter, and the tight games more intense. It begs the question, what NFL teams are the most hated? Where are they hated most?
We turned search data into receipts to find each state’s most adored NFL team. From there we used traditional rivalries to identify which team that state probably hates the most. Spoiler: one team from Philadelphia takes the crown for nationwide annoyance.
Top Findings
- The Philadelphia Eagles are the most hated team in 13 states, the widest spread of any franchise.
- The Las Vegas Raiders follow closely, hated in 8 states, mainly across the Mountain West and Midwest.
- The Green Bay Packers are loathed in 6 states, especially by neighboring fan bases.
- The New York Jets rank next, hated in 6 states, including much of New England.
- The Dallas Cowboys, often dubbed “America’s Team,” appear as the most hated in 3 states — Delaware, New Jersey, and Virginia.
- Regional patterns: the Raiders dominate the Mountain/Plains hate-map; the Jets anchor the Northeast; the Packers get heat from nearby rivals; the Eagles rack up resentment across the South and West.
The 5 Most Hated NFL Teams in America
1. Philadelphia Eagles – 13 states
2. Las Vegas Raiders – 8 states
3. New York Jets – 6 states (tie)
3. Green Bay Packers – 6 states (tie)
5. Dallas Cowboys – 3 states (tie)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers – 3 states (tie)
Interested in how these rivalries impact game outcomes? Check out the best NFL betting sites in Canada.
Philadelphia Eagles (13 states)
The Eagles top the hate rankings, drawing animosity across the South, Midwest, and even Hawaii. Eagles’ fans often get a bad rep and are often viewed by opposing team fans as arrogant and even aggressive.
States that hate the Eagles (13):
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas
Las Vegas Raiders (8 states)
From Colorado to Wyoming, the Raiders inspire plenty of animosity. Their hard-nosed image and historic rivalries across the AFC West ensure they stay near the top of the hate list.
States that hate the Raiders (8):
Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming
Green Bay Packers (6 states)
The Packers’ long history of dominance — especially over NFC North rivals — makes them a frequent target. Their Midwestern neighbors have had enough of “Go Pack Go” and want the Packers to just stay home.
States that hate the Packers (6):
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
New York Jets (6 states)
The Jets find themselves loathed across the Northeast. Rivalries with the Patriots and Bills, combined with media drama, make them one of the region’s most disliked teams.
States that hate the Jets (6):
Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Dallas Cowboys (3 states)
The Cowboys’ massive national fanbase — and their swagger — often backfire, fueling rivalry-driven disdain in surprising places. “America’s Team” might just be one of America’s most hated football teams.
States that hate the Cowboys (3):
Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia
Pittsburgh Steelers (3 states)
Tied for 5th with the Cowboys, the Steelers are one of the league’s most successful and visible franchises, which naturally breeds resentment. Long-running AFC North grudges and a trophy case that never shuts mean plenty of fans are thrilled to see them lose.
States that hate the Steelers (3):
Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio
How Does Canada Feel About NFL Teams?
Canada’s relationship with the NFL is a bit like its relationship with the U.S. in general, close proximity but complicated. The CFL is still woven into the country’s sports identity, but according to a 2023 Angus Reid Institute report, 62% say they’d rather watch the Super Bowl than the Grey Cup.
As for who Canada doesn’t like? There’s no single villain north of the border, but we can make some educated (and slightly petty) guesses:
- The Buffalo Bills: Technically the “local” team, especially for Southern Ontario, but also the constant reminder that Toronto still doesn’t have its own franchise. The old Bills Toronto Series (2008–2013) tried to build that connection, but attendance dropped steadily — from 52,134 in 2008 down to 38,969 in the final game — a sign that Canadians weren’t exactly adopting the Bills as their own.
- The Dallas Cowboys: “America’s Team” is a tough sell in a country that has “we’re not America” as a core personality trait.
Canadian NFL hate is less about burning rivalries and more about vibes: bandwagon dynasties, overhyped storylines, and fanbases that talk a little too loud.
Methodology
We analyzed search behavior across all 50 U.S. states using Google Keyword Planner, tracking the average monthly search volume for all 32 NFL teams from October 2021 to September 2025.
For each state, the team with the highest search volume was labeled its most popular team. That team was then matched to its primary rival using an internal rivalry dataset — revealing which team the state likely hates the most.
The logic is simple: more searches = more emotional investment. By pairing fandom data with rivalry history, we built a state-by-state map of the NFL teams that spark the most collective outrage.
You can see the full dataset here.
Sources
- Google Keyword Planner: average monthly search volume for all 32 NFL teams from October 2021 to September 2025.)
- Angus Reid Institute: “Super-ior Bowl? Most Canadian football fans would choose Super Bowl over Grey Cup, but not everywhere” (Feb 2023) – survey on NFL vs CFL preference in Canada.
- Bills Toronto Series (2008–2013): attendance, Southern Ontario fanbase estimates, and Canadian market context.
- NFL Canada fan data and media coverage: reporting on most popular NFL teams by Canadian region and cross-border Bills fandom.
Rivalries Make The Games
Hate is regional and very social-media-friendly. The Eagles’ broad reach — and kind of theatrical fandom — made them the nation’s most commonly “hated” team in our analysis. The Raiders keep their outlaw brand alive across the Mountain and Plains states. The Jets and Packers collect regional grudges, and the Cowboys prove that being famous makes you a public enemy for some.
Whether it’s historic grudges, divisional clashes, or just plain envy — in football, hate is part of the fun.
The NFL Team Each State Hates The Most, Full List
| State | Most Hated |
| Alabama | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Alaska | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Arizona | Seattle Seahawks |
| Arkansas | Philadelphia Eagles |
| California | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Colorado | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Connecticut | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Delaware | Dallas Cowboys |
| Florida | New York Jets |
| Georgia | New Orleans Saints |
| Hawaii | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Idaho | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Illinois | Green Bay Packers |
| Indiana | Green Bay Packers |
| Iowa | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Kansas | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Kentucky | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Louisiana | Atlanta Falcons |
| Maine | New York Jets |
| Maryland | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Massachusetts | New York Jets |
| Michigan | Green Bay Packers |
| Minnesota | Green Bay Packers |
| Mississippi | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Missouri | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Montana | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Nebraska | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Nevada | Philadelphia Eagles |
| New Hampshire | New York Jets |
| New Jersey | Dallas Cowboys |
| New Mexico | Philadelphia Eagles |
| New York | Miami Dolphins |
| North Carolina | Atlanta Falcons |
| North Dakota | Green Bay Packers |
| Ohio | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Oklahoma | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Oregon | San Francisco 49ers |
| Pennsylvania | Baltimore Ravens |
| Rhode Island | New York Jets |
| South Carolina | Philadelphia Eagles |
| South Dakota | Green Bay Packers |
| Tennessee | Indianapolis Colts |
| Texas | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Utah | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Vermont | New York Jets |
| Virginia | Dallas Cowboys |
| Washington | San Francisco 49ers |
| West Virginia | Baltimore Ravens |
| Wisconsin | Chicago Bears |
| Wyoming | Las Vegas Raiders |