Todd once observed an individual wearing a Philadelphia Eagles hat at a local establishment. Instinctively, he exclaimed “Go Birds!”—and was immediately met with the same enthusiastic response. After a brief discussion, he extended an invitation to his new acquaintance, George, to join his family’s weekly Eagles viewing gatherings. That weekend, George and his son arrived, carrying cheesesteaks. As the season progressed, more members of George’s family participated. Now, they all eagerly anticipate reconnecting as the fresh NFL season commences today.
This straightforward narrative highlights a crucial point: being a football enthusiast can be beneficial for you and those around you. You don’t need to distinguish between a cover-four and a Tampa-2 defense to don a cap, forge a friendship at a shop, and establish a new family custom. In an era characterized by widespread epidemics of and , sports fandom offers a straightforward and universally accessible remedy.
And it’s a widely embraced remedy. More than identify as football fans. Over a third believe the , and half advocate for the Monday following to be a paid day off from employment. The NFL isn’t merely the most-watched entertainment in America—it stands as one of the nation’s last truly unifying institutions. For those concerned with social connection and civic engagement, fandom presents a surprisingly promising avenue for both.
Numerous studies over many decades demonstrate that fans typically possess broader friendship networks, stronger sentiments of belonging, and reduced feelings of alienation. Ben Valenta and David Sikorjak encapsulated this idea in the title of their 2022 publication: . One even revealed that attending live sports events boosts life satisfaction and diminishes loneliness as effectively as starting a new job. Furthermore, in one compelling experiment, fans exhibited a greater propensity to assist one another—being three times more inclined to to aid a stranger in need wearing their team’s jersey.
Sports fandom holds a distinctive capacity to unite people, particularly at a time when many of our conventional civic bonds are weakening. As Robert Putnam chronicled in , the churches, neighborhood associations, and bowling leagues that once formed the bedrock of American communities have consistently seen declines in membership and influence, eroding civic life and our in one another.
Alongside generational shifts in how time is spent and involvement in communities, we increasingly categorize ourselves into uniform communities: . We select based on , , and . The combination of social media and political polarization makes it dangerously simple to avoid interacting with individuals from different backgrounds and perspectives.
Few institutions in America continue to attract large, diverse, and deeply committed memberships—and professional sports teams are at the forefront of that list. Participation is effortless: the sole obstacle is choosing to become a fan.
, 18 of the 20 most-viewed television broadcasts were NFL games. The only non-NFL entries were a presidential debate and the Oscars. Last year’s opening weekend averaged 21 million viewers per game. follow football at approximately equal rates. So do , and fans across .
The NFL faces genuine challenges—ranging from head trauma to racial disparities in leadership. , Black players were effectively prohibited. Nevertheless, the societal and civic advantages of fandom are too significant to disregard.
It’s challenging to conceive of any institution that is so broadly representative of the country—and so fervently embraced. So, put on a team hat. Wear your jersey to the grocery store. You might be greeted by your neighbors with spontaneous “Skol!” “Gang Green!” or “Go Birds!”
When you return the cheer, you will have just taken a small step towards strengthening your community—and perhaps forming a new friendship to watch with next week.
