As someone who loves sports, especially the NFL, you better believe I know about cities that have multiple teams in the league. I’m talking about Green Bay, where the Packers are, as well as the Seattle Seahawks of the NFC! It’s a question that often pops in my head; how many cities have multiple NFL teams?
Well, the answer’s not simple. As you may already know, having more than one NFL team in one city can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it can be great for the city’s economy, make more jobs available, and provide some serious competition between the two teams, making them even better! On the other hand, you get what’s known as “divisional loyalty”, which can be tricky for cities that have teams from different divisions, as fans may channel their loyalties away from the local teams, if they feel more of an attachment to one from a rival division.
So, let’s take a dive in, shall we? Well, as you’d expect, you’ll find two in the states of Wisconsin and Washington, being Green Bay and Seattle. Then, there’s the state of New York, with both the Jets and Giants. But, did you know that there’s another one in California? Yep, it’s Los Angeles. two NFL teams call the city home, although they were there way before the Rams and Chargers relocated. I’m talking about the Raiders and the 49ers! It’s incredible how definite it is, these four citied boast multiple NFL teams, thankfully.
But, it’s worth noting that across much of the rest of the nation, most cities only have one NFL team. Most of the NFL, and all the AFC for that matter, is made up of individual teams with no other teams besides them sharing their city’s territory. But with four distinct cities that support multiple NFL teams, you could say that the league is heaping up the competition in the right spots. And with that competition comes innovation and boldness on the part of those organizations, which is a huge win for both the fans and the teams involved.
It’s also important to note that not every NFL team is equal in terms of tradition or fan base. The Packers, Giants, and 49ers all have long histories and passionate fan bases, while both the Rams and Raiders boast a long and complicated story over their time in LA. The Seahawks, on the other hand, are a bit of a newcomer by comparison – they entered the league in 1976, while the other teams have all been around for far longer.
Finally, the most recent additions to the ranks of multiple NFL teams are the Chargers and Rams, who moved to Los Angeles in 2017 in an unprecedented move from their prior host cities, San Diego and St. Louis, respectively. In less than three years, the Rams have made immense progress in their new home, with their fans proving to be more loyal than ever.
It’s clear that titles don’t come easy in a market with multiple NFL teams, and that cities like Green Bay, Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles thrive when they hosting these serious rivalries. Sure, it can be a little confusing at times, especially when it comes to picking loyalties. But, for the most part, having multiple NFL teams in a city means that those teams will only get better, and the overall excitement will be maintained that much longer. That’s a win-win for everyone.