New Study Tabs Steelers Fans Among Most Loyal in NFL

Yahoo

20-05-2025

Pittsburgh Steeler fans cheer on the team during a victory over the Cleveland Browns in 2024.-- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
A new study has found that Pittsburgh Steelers fans are the fourth-most loyal fanbase in the NFL.
The team at CanadaSportsBetting analyzed the attendance of NFL teams during their worst season (since 2000) and the season before this. The data allowed the team to pinpoint which fanbases are the most loyal, even when their team is struggling.
Advertisement
The Steelers actually saw a 2.8% increase in attendance during their last losing season in 2003. The Steelers have sold out every home game since 1972, dating back to when the team played at Three Rivers Stadium.
'If you're a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, you most likely remember (or have heard about) the 2003 season. It all stemmed from an unbalanced offense, a struggling run game and a wavering defense,' Ben Mendelowitz of Canada Sports Betting wrote.
'With injuries to key running backs and a declining ground attack, the team relied heavily on quarterback Tommy Maddox, leading to turnovers and missed opportunities. Combined with a defense that couldn't close out games, the Steelers stumbled to a 6–10 record, their worst under head coach Bill Cowher.
'And yet, they too received higher average attendance during this season, jumping from 63,966 to 65,782, which is a 2.84% increase.'
Advertisement
The Minnesota Vikings ranked No. 1 in showing the best fan commitment in the league. The team attendance increased by 6.9% during their tough 2011 season.
In stark contrast, the Detroit Lions ranked as the least committed fanbase – they suffered an 11.1% drop in attendance throughout their winless 2008 campaign.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans during a Steelers-Browns game at Acrisure Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
While the Steelers fanbase is among the most loyal, it's also one of the moodiest.
A new study by Action Network found that the Steelers fanbase was one of the most moodiest in the 2024-2025 season, based off posts on social media. Steelers Nation was tabbed as the fifth-most moodiest, behind the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
Advertisement
Action Network analyzed 10.1 million negative posts on X and Reddit following all 285 games. Online posts were collected from both game day and the following day, regardless of the result.
Action Network then grouped posts by game outcome, calculating the average number of negative posts after wins and losses for each team.
'Rounding out the top five, Steelers fans have continued to voice their frustrations with the team's coaching staff and management throughout the 2024-25 season. Fans left 435,320 total negative comments after their games, of which 236,940 came after their 8 losses since the regular season began,' Alicia Grimes of Action Network wrote.
'On average, a Steelers loss led to 29,618 frustrated social media comments. Their Wild Card knockout at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens generated the most backlash, with 46,240 moody posts in the aftermath. The Steelers' first loss of the season against the Colts in Week 4 led to the fewest angry comments (19,420).'
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: New Study Tabs Steelers Fans Among Most Loyal in NFL