Are the Green Bay Packers the most despised team in the NFL? According to a flurry of offseason surveys, the answer might surprise you—or maybe not, if you're a Bears, Lions, or Vikings fan.
RotoWire.com, a fantasy sports powerhouse based in Madison, has crowned the Packers as the league's most hated franchise, sharing the dubious honor with the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders. Green Bay tops the hate list in six states: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Given that the first three are home to NFC North rivals, this feels less like a revelation and more like a badge of honor for Cheesehead nation.
But the data gets curiouser. List Wire flips the script, naming the Packers the most popular team in Iowa, while CableTV.com bizarrely claims the San Francisco 49ers are the Hawkeye State's dream team. Go figure.
Proximity seems to breed contempt. All of New England despises the Jets, and much of the Midwest has turned on the Raiders—likely because Vegas is uncomfortably close. Success also fuels the fire. RotoWire notes that the Packers are the third-most successful team this century, trailing only the Patriots and Steelers, who together share a similar number of hate-filled states. And while RotoWire credits Green Bay with 12 championships, true Packers fans will correct you: they count 13.
The Atlanta Falcons emerge as the next most-hated squad, which leaves us scratching our heads. What did the Falcons ever do?
On a lighter note, Bookies.com projects that jerseys for Micah Parsons and Jordan Love will be among the hottest sellers for the 2026 season. Parsons, acquired by the Packers before the 2025 campaign, is expected to rank 10th in NFL jersey sales, with Love close behind at 25th.
So whether you love 'em or hate 'em, the Packers are impossible to ignore. And if you're looking to rep your team—or your disdain—there's no better time to grab the gear that says it all.