The Most Delusional NFL Fanbases — Statistically Proven (Kind of)

Let’s be honest. Every NFL fan base has its moments of delusion. But some? Some treat 6-11 seasons like a speed bump on the road to destiny. 

Some draft backup quarterbacks and immediately buy their jerseys in three colors. 

Some are Cowboys fans…

So we asked: which NFL fan bases are statistically the most delusional?

Using an extremely scientific blend of win-loss records, preseason expectations, Reddit behavior, meme frequency, and jersey sales, here’s your NFL Delusion Index (trademark pending).

Our Delusion Index is based on:

• Expectation vs. Reality Differential: “We’re winning the Super Bowl” vs. “We didn’t make the playoffs.”

• Reddit Meltdown Frequency: Number of “FIRE EVERYONE” posts per loss.

• Preseason Tweet Analysis: Statements like “underrated roster” and “dark horse MVP candidate.”

• Midseason Coping Mechanisms: “Our schedule was too hard.” “Refs hate us.” “We’re rebuilding.”

• Emergency Jersey Purchases: Number of times a backup QB becomes the #1 seller overnight.

Let the irrational confidence begin.

1. Dallas Cowboys (Delusion Index: 100000/10)

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

Playoff wins since 1996: Seven. That’s where this section could end — but as the official NFL Delusion Index representative, it is my solemn duty to present the mountain of "evidence" we’ve gathered through hours of rigorous Reddit deep dives and completely unbiased meme analysis.

Dallas fans start every season by acting like they’re defending a dynasty when really, they’re just defending Dak Prescott's passer rating in a December loss to Washington. No team leads the league in confidence like the Cowboys, or in jersey sales, inflated expectations, and early playoff exits. They haven’t sniffed a Super Bowl since VHS tapes were still a thing, but you wouldn’t know it based on the yearly hype tsunami.

Their spiritual animal? The guy at the gym yelling “Let’s go!” during his warm-up set. Respect the hustle. 

But bro, it’s Week 1.

2. New York Jets (Delusion Index: 1000/10)

Courtesy of Jim McIssac / Getty Images

Jets fans act like every quarterback is about to become Brady, and every wideout is secretly Randy Moss — until October rolls around, and they’re yelling at Stephen A. Smith on their lunch break. 

Rodgers completes one preseason pass to Garrett Wilson, and Jets Twitter starts making playoff bracket predictions. Breece Hall breaks a 20-yard run in Week 1, and they’re comparing him to LaDainian Tomlinson. Sauce Gardner bats down a pass and suddenly, it’s Revis Island 2.0: Sauce Lagoon.

The o-line is still held together with duct tape and positive vibes, but you wouldn’t know it with the way fans are talking like they’ve already booked hotel rooms in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX.

This is the same team that lost to a Falcons offense last year that averaged fewer points than a high school JV squad. But facts don’t matter in Gotham. Hope springs eternal — usually, until the third quarter of Week 6, when Rodgers tweaks something, Zach Wilson reappears like a horror movie villain, and fans start posting “bring back Joe Namath” memes.

They’re like that friend who’s always in a new relationship and tells you, “No this one’s different.”

3. Chicago Bears (Delusion Index: 84.25/100)

Courtesy of Jacob Funk

Here’s the thing about Bears fans: they’re built different. They’ve convinced themselves this team is a sleeping giant — even though its spent the past two decades napping through most of the fourth quarter.

Every offseason, Bears Twitter becomes a motivational seminar. There are  PowerPoint threads breaking down why this wide receiver trio is top 5 and why Soldier Field’s wind is actually a home-field advantage, not a curse from George Halas’ ghost.

They’ll say things like “this defense is underrated” and “we could easily go 11-6” while ignoring the part where the Bears haven’t had a top-tier passing game since rotary phones were in style.

But that’s the magic of the fanbase. They will shovel snow off Soldier Field, paint their faces navy and orange, and yell “DA BEARS” after a routine third-down stop like it’s 1985 all over again.

Delusional? Yes. But let them have this. It’s the first time in forever that Bears fans can say, “we might actually have a quarterback,” without laughing halfway through the sentence.

And if things fall apart by November?

No worries — they’ve already got the 2025 mock drafts saved in their Notes app.

4. Las Vegas Raiders (82/100)

   

   Courtesy of Bob Levey / Getty Images

   Their motto? “Just win, baby.”

   Their reality? “Just vibe, baby.”

   
   

   No team has mastered the art of looking both menacing and completely unserious quite like the Raiders. You could tell a Vegas fan they’re going 6-11 and they’d still show up to the tailgate in a full Darth Vader costume with a spiked shoulder pad and face paint that took four hours to apply — because it's tradition.

   
   

   Raiders fans? Oh, they’re all in.

   
   

   They go 2-1 in September and start tweeting, “Dark Mode is back.” They beat the Broncos and suddenly, it's “nobody wants to see us in January.” And then… they lose four straight to AFC North teams, and it's crickets, or worse: “It’s the refs.”

   
   

   And still… they believe.

   
   

   Delusional? Yeah. But in Vegas, that’s not a bug — it’s the whole brand.

   
   

5. Los Angeles Chargers (Delusion Index: 79/100)

   

   Courtesy of Los Angeles Chargers

No team looks better on paper and worse on Sundays than the Chargers. Every offseason, Chargers fans emerge from their caves like Punxsutawney Phil and say the same thing with their whole chest: “This is the year.”

In 2024, it really felt like it might be. Jim Harbaugh rode into town like a khaki-clad messiah. Justin Herbert is still launching footballs into orbit. The roster? Talented. The vibes? Immaculate. The results? Well… it’s complicated.

Chargers fans live in a permanent state of cautious optimism, also known as “pre-trauma.” They’ll be up 24-0 and still text their group chat, “I don’t like this. I’ve seen this movie before.” And they have. The Chargers are football’s version of “Final Destination.” You don’t know how it’ll all go wrong — you just know it will.

The fanbase? Loyal, small, and chronically online. There are more people in line for a Disneyland churro than in the average SoFi Stadium section during a Chargers home game. And yet, those fans are die-hard. They’ll defend Herbert like he’s their own child and blame every loss on poor clock management, missed calls, or the very concept of time.

They’re the football equivalent of the kid with a 4.3 GPA who forgets to show up for the SAT.

Final Thoughts

Listen, football requires a little delusion. It’s what keeps us watching when it’s snowing, our team is down 24 in the third, and the announcer is trying to explain why our backup long snapper is playing quarterback.

But if your team hasn’t touched the Lombardi Trophy since you were in kindergarten and you're still talking rings by September… yeah. You’re on this list.

And don’t worry, I’ll be right there with you, go Hawks!