Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs Surpass Cowboys as 2024’s ‘Most Hated Team’ on NFL Twitter

The Kansas City Chiefs might have reached the Super Bowl for the second consecutive time this year, but NFL fans on X (formerly Twitter) are not happy. According to a pre-Super Bowl poll, Patrick Mahomes‘ crew was found out to be the most hated team in the NFL space on X. While the Dallas Cowboys acquired this spot in the previous few years, it seems like the Chiefs have been facing the heat this year.

In a study conducted by ‘Bet Online’ for over 90 days, negative comments about NFL teams were recorded. And the results were surprising.  The study conducted took critical comments about the teams into account, which could be as simple as “I hate the Cowboys” or as colorful insults as possible.

Among the 120,000 posts recorded, over 10,000 were about the Chiefs. The San Francisco 49ers, who were to face Kansas City in the big game, came at the 10th spot with less than 5,000 negative tweets. The previously hated team, Dallas Cowboys, was in the second spot, with around 9000 comments.

The reason behind these results could most probably be fan fatigue. The Chiefs have performed spectacularly in the past few years, having reached the Super Bowl four times since 2020. But the fans, especially those who don’t support the Mahomes-led team, might be tired of seeing the same faces repeatedly.

Moreover, while the sudden limelight on Taylor Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce was appreciated by many, it might not have been welcomed by some. The top spot on the list was certainly a surprise. But have the Chiefs regained their fans’ favor after their Super Bowl win?

Did the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win create a difference?

As Kansas City won their second consecutive Super Bowl this year, their popularity has rocketed. Mahomes became the MVP for the third time, Kelce’s victory speech went viral, and Reid’s ‘Tom and Jerry’ game-winning play blew everyone’s minds. The Super Bowl enjoyed a record viewership, the largest since the moon landing in 1969.

According to last year’s survey by ‘YouGov’, the Chiefs were the most famous NFL team overall in 2023, with 49% popularity and disliked by 9% of the subjects. So, while the football space on Twitter might be polarized, the team has been rising in popularity over the years. These numbers would have increased significantly after their recent win.

Even Kelce and Swift’s moments during the after-party were widely shared and swooned over. In a survey by ‘Lending Tree’, 13% of Americans shared they were more interested in football because of Swift. Further, even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell affirmed the effect the musician has had on the league. “It has connected more fans of Taylor’s and more fans of the NFL in some ways. To see that they have a connection, now they have a connection to our game and to Taylor… I think it’s great for the league to have that kind of attention. So, we welcome it.”

Now, ahead of the upcoming season, the Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up for another run for the championship. It will be interesting to see if the Mahomes-led squad will be able to extend their three-peat and create history since 1967.

Read More: Tyreek Hill Reveals How Patrick Mahomes Influenced His Chiefs Exit