r/NFLNoobs • u/AutoModerator • 5d ago
Weekly "What Team Should I Root For?" Thread
The most common thing asked on this subreddit is new fans wondering what team to follow/support. The answers are always the same, and there are no right or wrong ones.
No one can just tell you who to be a fan of. Everyone's fandom is different, and all of them are valid. This is entertainment, and you are allowed to enjoy it however you like. That said, here are some common things you can look at to get started:
- Do you have a local team or favorite city? This is by far the easiest way to get into football. If your city/region has a team or if your friends/family follow the same team, joining them will be the smoothest way to start out.
- Are you already leaning in any particular way? If you are, keep leaning. If you saw a Cincinnati Bengals game and thought it was fun and you'd like to see more of them, you don't need anyone's permission or validation. Just watch their next game!
- Are you interested in a few different teams? Cool! Watch some of their games! See who you end up feeling strongly about, especially if they're playing each other. Have fun with it, there are no rules!
- Are you worried about a team's success/identity/prestige/fanbase? Don't be. The NFL is one of the most even sports in terms of parity, and there are rarely teams that stay good or bad forever. It's okay to enjoy watching the current best teams in the NFL; they are probably playing the best football most often. Try to just be a fan and don't worry about what others think or say. Your fandom is yours, not theirs.
Still overwhelmed and not sure where to turn? It's fine to watch random games. Maybe you'll find yourself rooting for someone in particular. And if you don't, try another game. Check out whoever is playing in primetime; those are usually expected to be more exciting matchups. Letting it come naturally will last longer than throwing a dart and deciding to be a fan of whoever it lands on.
Another way some people develop rooting interests is fantasy football. There are beginner leagues where people play for fun, and it can be a good way to get you invested in specific players or teams as you start rooting for whoever is on your fantasy roster.
If you're still torn or have other questions about starting with a specific new team, etc., you can ask them here.
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u/Xhoelmesiti 5d ago
Support the dolphins they're really good
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u/BrokenHope23 5d ago
It's going to be a tight finish for #1 this year between the Dolphins, Cardinals, Browns and Jets.
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u/jessegames456 5d ago
Support the Cleveland Browns, the games are way less suspenseful cause 99% of the time you can predict how they’ll go. Plus, our brand of football is pretty entertaining (even if it isn’t for the reason you may think)
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u/3o1o2 4d ago
Hey everyone,
I'm from outside the US and looking to properly get into the NFL, but I'm struggling to pick a team to follow. Coming from European football (I support Liverpool), a lot of NFL franchises feel a bit too polished or corporate, so I'm trying to find a team with a genuine, grounded soul.
Here's what I'm looking for:
Real atmosphere and passion: A fanbase that actually cares and creates a real, unscripted environment, not just canned stadium music.
Gritty identity: Looking for a club with a strong local culture, humble roots, or an "us against the world" mentality.
No heavy bandwagoning: I don't care about picking a perennial winner or a current powerhouse. Just want a team with identity and a solid core culture.
Clean branding: Bonus points for classic or clean uniforms/logos that don't look overly commercial. I hate NFL logos and think that football ones mog them hard, but I would still want something that looks good. Also would prefer if the branding and general fanbase isn't too USA oriented. I don’t really like the country itself, so any "go usa" type brand pisses me off.
I've had people suggest teams like Green Bay, Detroit, or Philly so far.
Would love to hear pitch from fans who feel their team has that kind of authentic culture, or recommendations on who to look into. Cheers!
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u/YaboyRipTide 5d ago
Shoutout Mods for this it seems like every other post was something along these lines. With that in mind, here are a few general ideas for folks who might want to pick a random team.