Though the NFL has 32 franchises on its list, they’re spread across only 22 states. As many Iowans know, it creates an interesting environment for football fans. The overwhelming majority of locals would likely bring up the NCAA when asked a question about football, rather than the NFL.
However, given that the state is home to diehard football fans, they’re also not shy about weighing in on their favorite professional team. For the most part, the state has football fans that root for the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and, more recently, Kansas City Chiefs.
Though some might consider them fair-weather fans, there’s also a margin of NFL followers who pledge their loyalty according to the odds on offer for each team. Since Iowa’s online betting market went live in 2019, there’s been a consistent rollout of new offers from each Iowa sportsbook that has fans diving into stats and analysis with renewed interest.
The NFL, in particular, sees plenty of activity in the offseason as pundits look to select a dark horse before Week 1. Anyone on the fence about cheering on the Packers or the Vikings might easily sway one way based on what oddsmakers have to say—but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a conclusive winner when it comes to which NFL team has more Iowan backers.
The Closest Options: Vikings & Packers
The Vikings and Packers tend to have the most support given proximity. Those who want to attend a live match are more likely to head to Minneapolis to catch the Vikings or Green Bay for the Packers.
As such, one report from Vivid Seats tabulated ticket sales from 2019 from each state and found that Iowans bought the most tickets for Vikings games, as did fans in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. The same goes for Facebook likes tabulated in 2014 from a study by The Atlantic. Though the race was close, the Vikings once again came out ahead.
Oddly enough, they weren’t followed by the Packers; instead, the Packers shared portions of the state with Bears fans, who dominate the southeastern portion. To the surprise of some, the study found five counties follow the Cowboys.
The Latest Bandwagon: Chiefs
Though the Chicago Bears have had a longstanding presence in Iowa, the Chiefs recent come-up has endeared many fans to the Kansas City squad. At the same time, the Bears’ ongoing struggles to recalibrate have made a switchover for some easy.
However, geography once again rules where these fans are most likely to live. As per The Atlantic study cited above, southwest Iowa sees more Chiefs fans, while the central portion of the state is more likely to be home to Packers or Vikings fans.
The Verdict: College Sports Win
Though it may seem like a battleground for NFL fans, Iowa is actually a great place to live if you love the sport—especially for those who follow the NCAAF. As mentioned above, the majority of football fans are likely closely following their favorite NCAA team throughout autumn instead of one of the pro teams listed above.
The state is home to universities with highly competitive athletic programs that compete in the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences. In this way, fans also have plenty of options when it comes to following a local NCAA program, including University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Drake, Northern Iowa, and Upper Iowa.
For context, the NCAA also tends to outsell the NFL in terms of season tickets, while intergenerational fan groups go all-out with tailgating for major games. Viewed in this light, Iowa’s lack of an NFL franchise isn’t problematic for locals. Though they’d welcome one if commissioner Roger Goodell opened up expansion team talks, there’s plenty for fans to chew on at the moment.
