The Detroit Lions have been crowned the most foul-mouthed fanbase in the NFL, according to a new study that analyzed fan behavior online. Despite the team’s success in recent seasons, including clinching their first division title since 1993, Lions fans still have plenty of colorful language to share, especially in the wake of some tough losses.
The study, conducted by betting site FlashPicks, combed through the Reddit pages of all 32 NFL teams to determine which fanbases used the most expletives. The Lions topped the list, with their subreddit recording a staggering 288 curse words. A significant portion of these posts likely followed the team’s heartbreaking 34-31 loss in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, a game that left fans frustrated after coming so close to the Super Bowl.
Coming in second on the list were the Las Vegas Raiders, whose fanbase recorded 274 curse words. The Raiders have struggled on the field in recent seasons, which could explain the high volume of venting from their passionate supporters. Rounding out the top three were the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose fans are known for their intensity, logging a significant amount of expletive-laden posts in their subreddit as well.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ fans proved to be the most polite, with just 48 curse words found in their subreddit. This result is somewhat surprising, as the Jaguars have endured their fair share of frustrating seasons, but it seems their fanbase prefers to express their emotions in a more reserved manner.
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One of the biggest surprises of the study was the Philadelphia Eagles, whose fans have a longstanding reputation for being brash and outspoken, both online and in person. However, when it came to their Reddit activity, the Eagles’ fanbase ranked only 16th in terms of profanity, a much lower position than many might have expected. Meanwhile, in New York, Giants fans came in 29th place, while the Jets fans cracked the top ten, landing in 10th place.
FlashPicks head of operations, Callum Broxton, spoke to the New York Post about the findings, emphasizing that while there are certainly some passionate fans, the majority are not overly foul-mouthed. “Foul-mouthed fans are in the minority, as less than 1% of the words used on each subreddit were curse words,” he explained, highlighting that the expletives, though notable, don’t dominate the conversation.
As the NFL season progresses, it’s likely that some fanbases may see their swearing tendencies increase or decrease depending on their team’s performance.
For teams like the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Carolina Panthers—all struggling with 1-4 records heading into Week 6—there could be more frustration and profanity as the season wears on. Conversely, fanbases like the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, both off to undefeated 5-0 starts, are likely enjoying smoother sailing and, perhaps, fewer expletives.
Overall, the study offers a fascinating glimpse into the emotions and behavior of NFL fans online.
While football is undoubtedly a passionate sport, it seems most fans, even in moments of high stress, prefer to keep their language relatively clean—though for some fanbases, like the Lions and Raiders, the occasional expletive helps to vent their frustrations.
