I read somewhere where someone wrote about the "best fans in the NFL". I agreed to some point, but the truth is is that I thought their number one pick was wrong. There is only one team whose fans are faithful.
Oh, sure. One can argue that the "Who Dat?" nation, who supported the Saints when they were called the "A'ints" in the early 80s, could be on the list, but come on! When fans wear bags over their faces because they're embarrassed of their team (Lions fans?) can't possibly be true fans.
New England fans really don't have a choice. If they dared to go for a team that isn't the Patriots, half of Boston would kick their ass. So, do they count? Not particularly sure. While they are faithful, I don't think they are the top.
Even this die hard, bleed blue and orange fan of the Chicago Bears dismisses her fellow fans. Why? Simple. Bears fans are one of three: Die harders; Fair weatherers; Band wagoners. As long as "Da Bears" are winning, all of Chicago support them, but lose one game? Suddenly, "Da Bears" suck. And, don't even mention the NFC Championship game of last year. We lost Cutler and the game. Suddenly, every fair weather fan and band wagon fan burned Bears jerseys (most notably Jay Cutler's) and talking about how much the Bears suck and how we'll never win again.
Nope. Not even Bears fans can top this list.
So, who is it you ask? This pains me because the rivalry is the biggest and most famous, even if it's not the oldest.
The Green Bay Packers' fans are the most die hard. In Green Bay, there is no such thing as a fair weather or band wagon fan. It's simple: You're either a Packers fan or you're not. And, if you've ever been to Green Bay, you know that the whole damn city is Packers fans. Even if they don't care for football on the whole, they are die hard Packers fan. Every Sunday, the entire city of Green Bay dons their green and gold and chants (even in their living rooms) GO PACK GO!
These are the same fans that give Vince Lombardi sainthood. The same fans who felt betrayed by Bret Favre's retirement (the first one) and embraced Aaron Rodgers when he took over, and these are the same fans that, despite feeling betrayed by Favre, still cheer for him and hope that he'll return to Green Bay, only to be the back up, of course.
Green Bay fans endure the coldest outdoor field. I have seen the fans (not in person, but TV) that are wearing no shirts, except for body paint of green and gold, with their favorite player's number or GB. Have you seen a Bears fan do that in the dead of winter? I haven't.
Packer fans will cheer with every positive the Pack does. A gain of 1 yard? That's worth a cheer? A sack? The whole stadium erupts (especially if it is a Bears or Vikings QB that's sacked). Interception? Touchdown? Doesn't matter. The fans believe in their team, whether they win or lose.
And, with the exception of the Bears and Cowboys, the Packers have fans all over this country. But, in saying that, the Packers probably have more fans in every city than the Bears and Cowboys combined outside of their perspective cities.
When the Packers do lose, their fans die a little. Bears fans are always "There's next game. It's no big deal." Not Packers fans. Every loss is taken to heart just as every win is. I believe that the Pack won the Super Bowl for the fans because of the fans.
As talented as they are, the Packers need their fans.
So, who has the best fans in the NFL? The Green Bay Packers without a doubt.