What NFL Team Does Austin, Texas Root For?
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It’s no secret that Austin, Texas is a football town. But what NFL team do the locals root for? We break it down for you.
Introduction
Although Austin, Texas is not home to an NFL team, that doesn’t mean that the city doesn’t have a team that its residents root for. So, what NFL team does Austin, Texas root for?
The answer may surprise you. Although the Dallas Cowboys are the most popular team in Texas, Austinites seem to have a soft spot for the New England Patriots.
Why the Patriots? It could be because they are one of the most successful teams in recent history, winning six Super Bowls since 2001. Or it could be because they have a connection to the city – former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe played for the University of Texas at Austin before being drafted by the Patriots in 1993.
Whatever the reason, it’s clear that Austinite’s have found a team to support even though they don’t have one of their own.
The Dallas Cowboys
While the Dallas Cowboys may not be the most popular team in Austin, Texas, they are still the team that most people in the city root for. This is likely due to the fact that the Cowboys are the closest NFL team to Austin.
The Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are the professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member club of the American Football Conference South division. The team plays its home games at NRG Stadium.
The Texans were established in 2002 as the Houston Texans expansion team after Houston was awarded an NFL franchise when the league realigned divisions following the 2001 season. The Texans replaced the retired Houston Oilers franchise, which had competed in the AFC Central prior to 2001. They have made eight playoff appearances since joining the league as an expansion team, most recently in 2019 after securing their fourth AFC South title. The Texans have also won four Divisional Round playoff games, three Wild Card round playoff games, and are 2–0 in Conference Championship games. However, they have never advanced to a Super Bowl.
The Austin American-Statesman’s NFL Fan Poll
The Austin American-Statesman asked its readers to weigh in on who they think the city of Austin, Texas should root for in the NFL. In a close race, the Dallas Cowboys came out on top with 38% of the vote. The Houston Texans were a close second with 36% of the vote. The other teams received less than 10% of the vote.
Conclusion
There is no easy answer when it comes to what NFL team Austin, Texas roots for. The majority of the city seems to favor the Dallas Cowboys, but there are also a significant number of fans for the Houston Texans and even the New Orleans Saints. Ultimately, it seems that each individual in Austin chooses what team to root for based on their own personal preference.
