Top 10 Most Followed NFL Twitter Accounts

Social media has changed the way fans enjoy the NFL; it isn’t just about cheering it out at the stadium or screaming at a TV screen with your friends at home or at a bar anymore (which isn’t to say that we don’t do it anymore!). The introduction of Facebook and Twitter especially has taken us to the next level of interaction and fan experience, where we can now personally reach out to and interact with the “gods of the football field.”

As social platforms go, Twitter is unbeatable when it comes to immediate news, responses, and reactions, especially with the way the current NFL season is heating up. With no limit on frequency and reach, there is no better way for fans and teams to connect. Where do you turn for immediate news? There was a great touchdown five seconds ago? It’s gonna be on Twitter to be commented and shared in under a minute!

Breaking news is what you find on Twitter, which is why the whole world is on it!

Which are the most followed NFL twitter accounts right now?

With fans following (and unfollowing) teams’ accounts with an easy click of the button, the numbers can change in the blink of an eye. So, which are the teams that are doing it right on Twitter? And what’s driving their popularity?

New England Patriots - 2,652,501

While the Cowboys may dominate social media as a whole, the New England Patriots are by far the most popular NFL team on Twitter, with a cool 2.65 million followers. Being a contender for the Super Bowl for almost two decades definitely makes them popular! With in-game updates, player news, practice videos, contests and so much more to keep the fans engaged, it’s no wonder that each post sees retweets in the hundreds and upto a few thousand likes.

Dallas Cowboys - 2,028,610

Dubbed “America’s Team”, it makes sense that the Cowboys rank high on Twitter, coming in a fairly close second to the Patriots with 2.02 million followers. With practice pics and reports, videos, minute-to-minute updates, and teasers about upcoming games, their Twitterverse is a busy place. With an average retweet of 479.4, the Cowboys have a very engaged audience!

Denver Broncos - 1,922,624

With a following of 1.92 million, the Denver Broncos have a very loyal fan base that ranks them third most popular on Twitter. With hundreds of pics, videos and updates being retweeted and favourited (not to forget all the mentions), Broncos fans are quick to catch up on the news and celebrate team victories here.

Carolina Panthers - 1,854,359

Following their successful season last year, not to mention their performance in the current season, the Carolina Panthers are currently placed fourth with 1.85 million followers on Twitter. With updates, memes, GIFS, and a whole lot more, Panthers fans have about 50,000 reasons (50,139 tweets and counting) to keep up with their twitter feed.

Pittsburgh Steelers - 1,492,192

Hailing from one of the smallest cities to have an NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a Twitter following of 1.49 million, a truly impressive figure that clearly extends far beyond geographic limits! Considered one of the most successful NFL franchises, they do their part in giving the fans things to talk about.

Seattle Seahawks - 1,483,398

With a more than 80% increase in followers in the space of about 20 months, the Seattle Seahawks are seeing a meteoric rise in popularity on Twitter. They clock in at number six, with 1.48 million followers. Between their prowess on the field, their players’ popularity, and the “plugged-in” nature of the city, where else will Hawks fans be but Twitter?

Green Bay Packers - 1,411,992

They may be in seventh place with 1.41 million followers, but the Green Bay Packers have a well-earned reputation for fan engagement. Covering the board with news, game highlights, unique hashtags and giveaways, this 13-time World Champion team know how to make their fans feel welcome and wanting more contact with the team!

San Francisco 49ers - 1,373,771

With a long successful history and a very loyal fanbase, the San Francisco 49ers have a  following of 1.37 million on Twitter. With official game updates as well as fun things like contests and videos that let followers know more about their favourite players, the 49ers’ tweets see a respectable number of likes and retweets.

Philadelphia Eagles - 1,333,961

The Philadelphia Eagles come in second to last on this list with 1.33 million followers on Twitter. However, despite their somewhat late arrival on Twitter (2010 vs. other teams coming in at 2009) and not ranking among the best teams in the NFL, their evident popularity makes it clear that they’re doing things right here!

Chicago Bears - 1,212,937

With 1.21 million followers, the Chicago Bears round out the list of popular NFL teams on Twitter. Keeping their fan base up to date with things like practice squad moves, roster changes, behind-the-scenes videos, live videos, and entertaining them with caption contests and whatnot, Bears fans have a lot to look forward to on this page.

What Happens by the End of the Season?

This is how the teams rank for popularity on Twitter right now; but there’s noted correlation between winning and growing popularity on social media. So, as the NFL season progresses, what do you think is going to happen? Do you think there will be substantial change in the top 10 list by the time the season ends?

And more importantly, do you think Twitter is the best way for you to engage with your favourite team or do you prefer one of the other platforms? Start the conversation and tell us what you think!