NFL Teams By State

The NFL teams are not evenly distributed by state, as the league has prioritized growing the sport in the country’s most populous regions. There are a few teams that play across state lines, mainly the New York Giants and New York Jets, both of whom play in New Jersey. By understanding where each NFL team is located in comparison to the rest of the league, you can get a better understanding of why certain teams have avid fan bases while others are spread across several states. There are a total of 23 states with at least one of the 32 NFL teams, while 27 states are forced to cheer on an out-of-state NFL team. 

NFL Teams by State

States With Multiple NFL Teams

There are a total of seven states with multiple NFL teams, with half of the league located in one of these seven states. New Jersey is an interesting example, as both teams are named after New York but play at Metlife Stadium across the river in New Jersey. It is no surprise to see Texas on this list, as the state is well known for the pipeline of football stars they develop on a yearly basis. Currently, Maryland has two teams, the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders. However, with a new stadium plan set for Washington, they could be removed from this list in the coming years. New York is the largest state not on this list, with nearly 20 million people cheering on the Buffalo Bills. Maryland has just the 18th most people in the United States but has the privilege of two NFL teams competing for the Super Bowl in the state. 

States With One NFL Team

There are a total of 16 states with exactly one NFL team. New York has the Buffalo Bills in the North, but the two New York City teams both play in New Jersey, leaving them with only one team in the state. The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons represent the South well, as there is a high density of NFL players from those two states. The Seattle Seahawks are the lone representative of the Northwest, with thousands of miles separating the next closest rival. Finally, the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs patrol the Midwest, while the rest of the solo-state teams are surrounded by other NFL franchises. 

States With No NFL Teams

There are 27 states without an NFL team. The Kansas City Chiefs play in Missouri, which is one of the most common misconceptions in the NFL. Several of these states will likely never have an NFL team due to their low population, lack of stadium capacity, and extensive travel. Understandably, Hawaii and Alaska don’t have an NFL team, but with the league looking to expand globally, the lengthy travel could be mitigated in the future. 

Fun Facts About NFL Teams and States

Several interesting trends have developed regarding the NFL teams and their states. There have been calls for the league to do a better job at expanding across the country, but the NFL has prioritized growing the game in the big metropolitan areas over smaller market states without a high population. 

• Virginia is the largest state in terms of population without an NFL team. With 8.8 million inhabitants, it is the twelfth largest state in the nation. Twelve states have a lower population but still have an NFL team compared to Virginia.
• Louisiana has the New Orleans Saints as its NFL team despite having the 25th-largest population in the United States. Its 4.5 million population is just 54 times the capacity of Caesars Superdome. 
• Arizona is home to the oldest NFL franchise, the Arizona Cardinals, established in 1898. Despite being the oldest team, the Cardinals have never won a Super Bowl, and last won the NFL championship in 1947.