NFL Fanbase Confidence Index For 2025 Season

The NFL season will officially get underway with the Eagles hosting the Cowboys on Thursday, Sept 4.

The start of the new season means a clean slate for every team and fans dreaming of the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl. But some fans have higher hopes for their team than others.

To find out, BetMGM surveyed NFL fans nationwide, asking them to weigh in on their team’s prospects for the upcoming season. The results show which fanbases are the most optimistic and which are approaching the new season cautiously.

The survey found that 51% of NFL fans are “very” or “extremely” confident heading into the 2025 season. But which teams top the list with the most confidence? Find out below. 

NFL Fanbase Confidence Index Table

Where Does Your Team Rank?

Key Findings

• The Buffalo Bills have the most confident fanbase in the NFL this upcoming season, with over 80% of fans expressing high levels of confidence in their team. The top reasons for such high confidence are due to recent strong seasons and the return of key players.
• The Bills, Eagles, Chargers, Ravens, and Chiefs top the list, all exceeding 70% high fan confidence, attributed to recent seasons, returning players, and good team management.
  

Reasons for High Confidence

Fans with high confidence in their teams primarily attribute their optimism to on-field performance factors. The leading reason is fewer injuries, cited by 32.66% of respondents, followed by a stronger defense at 25.25% and a stronger offense at 14.48%. Organizational elements such as team management, coaching staff, and roster changes rank lower, suggesting that fans place greater value on improvements on the field and health, rather than front office decisions.

Key Findings

• Fewer injuries are the top driver of high confidence (32.66%).
• Stronger defense (25.25%) and stronger offense (14.48%) are also major motivators.
• Organizational factors like coaching, management, and roster changes have less influence on fan confidence.

Least Confident Fanbases

Key Findings   

• The Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns enter the new season tied for the least confident fanbase, with over half of supporters expressing low confidence, driven by the Browns’ struggles last year and the Colts’ fourth straight postseason absence.
• The Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars also rank among the teams with the lowest fan confidence, with over a third of their supporters expressing low confidence for the upcoming season, reflecting challenges ranging from injuries to last season’s disappointments.

Reasons for Low Confidence

Fans with low confidence in their teams most often point to shortcomings in offensive performance, with 24.31% citing the need for a stronger offense. This is followed by team roster changes at 17.25%, better coaching staff at 16.47%, and better team management at 15.69%. 

Methodology

This study was conducted via Pollfish on August 4th, 2025, among a nationally representative sample of 1,500 NFL fans across the United States. Respondents answered 12 questions exploring their confidence in their NFL team, expectations for the upcoming season, reasons for optimism or pessimism, and attendance habits. Fieldwork was conducted on Monday, August 4th, with respondents representing all 32 NFL teams. Quotas were applied to ensure an accurate reflection of the distribution of NFL fanbases nationwide, and regional data was weighted to prevent skewed conclusions.

This report is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional betting advice nor opinions of BetMGM LLC; BetMGM encourages you to always bet responsibly and adheres to all regulatory compliance requirements.