What NFL Team Does Alabama Root For?

It’s no secret that Alabama is a football state. But when it comes to the NFL, which team do the fans in the state root for?

The History of the Rivalry

The Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers

The Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers have been rivals since the very first football game they played against each other in 1893. Since then, they’ve played each other every year except for one, and the rivalry has only grown more intense over time.

The two teams are separated by just a few miles, which makes the rivalry even more heated. And, of course, there’s the fact that they’re both powerhouse teams in college football, so there’s a lot at stake whenever they play each other.

The rivalry came to a head in 2013 when Auburn beat Alabama in what was one of the most dramatic games in the history of the rivalry. That win gave Auburn the edge in the all-time series, which only adds to the intensity of the rivalry.

There’s no question that the Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers are one of the biggest rivals in all of sports. And there’s no telling what will happen when they take the field against each other again.

The Iron Bowl

The Iron Bowl is an annual American college football game played between the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn University Tigers. The name is derived from the traditional rivalry between the two schools, which is nicknamed the “Iron Bowl.” The game is traditionally played on Thanksgiving weekend.

The Iron Bowl is one of the most important rivalries in American sports. It is also one of the most intense and emotional. The fans of both teams are some of the most passionate in all of college football.

The rivalry began in 1893, when Auburn and Alabama first played each other in football. Alabama won that first meeting, 32-22. Since then, the two teams have played each other almost every year. They have only skipped three seasons: 1907, 1943, and 1944.

In the early years of the rivalry, Auburn was dominant. From 1900 to 1947, Auburn won 15 out of 25 games against Alabama. But since 1948, Alabama has been the better team. The Crimson Tide has won 69 out of 103 games since then.

The rivalry reached its peak in the 1970s and 1980s. These were two great teams with two great coaches: Bear Bryant for Alabama and Pat Dye for Auburn. They shared eight SEC championships between them during this time period.

In recent years, the rivalry has been more one-sided than it was in those glory days. Alabama has won 11 out of 12 games since 2008. But even though Auburn hasn’t had much success against their rivals lately, the passion and intensity of the fans on both sides remains as strong as ever.

The Fans

The Loyalty of the Fans

It is no secret that the state of Alabama is football crazy. On any given Friday night in the fall, you will find high school football games being played all over the state. And on Saturdays, the entire state turns its attention to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. But what about Sundays? Which NFL team do the fans of Alabama root for?

The answer to that question is not as cut and dry as you might think. There are 3 NFL teams that have a strong following in Alabama, and they are all division rivals of each other. Those teams are the New Orleans Saints, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Carolina Panthers.

There are a few factors that contribute to this divided loyalty among Alabama fans. First, there is no NFL team located in Alabama. The closest team is the Saints, who play their home games in New Orleans, Louisiana. The state of Louisiana shares a border with Alabama, so many Saints fans live in or have roots in Alabama.

Secondly, each of these 3 teams has had success at various times throughout their history. The Saints won Super Bowl XLIV in 2010, and the Falcons won Super Bowl XXXIII in 1998. The Panthers have not won a Super Bowl yet, but they did appear in Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 (losing to the New England Patriots 32-29).

Finally, each of these 3 teams has a player or coach with ties to Alabama. The Saints have running back Mark Ingram Jr., who played his college ball at the University of Alabama. The Falcons have wide receiver Julio Jones, who also played his college ball at Alabama. And the Panthers have head coach Ron Rivera, who was born in Fort Ord, California but grew up in Pennsylvania and played football at Allegheny College (located just outside Pittsburgh).

So although there is no NFL team based in Alabama, there are 3 teams that have a strong following within the state. And with each team having success at various times throughout their history, it is no wonder that loyalty is divided among fans.

The Passion of the Fans

When it comes to football, Alabama is a state that is passionate about the sport. There are a number of different NFL teams that have fans in the state, but there is one team in particular that seems to have the majority of support. That team is the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints have a strong connection to Alabama, as the team was founded in 1967 by John W. Mecom Jr., who was born in Mobile, Alabama. The team has also had a number of players who have come from the state, including Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning and current linebacker Demario Davis.

Alabama has been behind the Saints through thick and thin, and they continue to be one of the most popular teams in the state. If you’re looking for a team to root for when you’re in Alabama, the New Orleans Saints are definitely the way to go.

The Tradition

When it comes to NFL football, the state of Alabama has a rich tradition of rooting for a variety of teams. This is due in part to the fact that Alabama has no professional football team of its own. However, over the years, certain teams have become more popular among Alabama residents. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular NFL teams in Alabama.

The Rivalry Game

Since the NFL’s inception in 1920, there has been a natural rivalry between the two most dominant teams in the league, the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. This rivalry has been renewed in recent years with the Packers’ success under head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and the Giants’ success under head coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning.

In 2011, Alabama became the latest team to join this rivalry, when they announced that they would be rooting for the Packers in the NFC Championship game against the Giants. This decision was not without controversy, as many Alabama fans are diehard fans of either the Giants or the Packers’ biggest rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.

However, Alabama’s decision to root for the Packers was based on two factors: first, McCarthy is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and played college football at Baker University in Kansas; second, Coughlin is a native of Waterloo, New York, and coached at Syracuse University prior to joining the Giants. Therefore, Alabama felt they had more of a connection to the Packers than they did to the Giants.

This rivalry game has become one of the most anticipated games of each NFL season, and with good reason. These are two of the most successful teams in NFL history, with a combined 27 Super Bowl appearances and 16 championships between them. So whether you’re an Alabama fan or not, make sure you tune in to watch this great game!

The Rivalry Trophy

The rivalry between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide is one of the most storied and intense in all of college football. So intense, in fact, that the winner of the annual game takes home a trophy known as the “Iron Bowl Trophy.”

The Iron Bowl Trophy was first introduced in 1948 by then-Governor of Alabama, Bibb Graves. The trophy is a replica of an actual iron ore wagon used in the early days of iron mining in Alabama. The trophy is meant to symbolize the hard-fought battle between these two historic rivals.

Over the years, the Iron Bowl Trophy has become one of the most coveted prizes in all of college football. Each year, tens of thousands of fans from both Alabama and Auburn flock to Birmingham to watch their team compete for this coveted prize.

So, what NFL team does Alabama root for? While there are fans of all NFL teams throughout the state, there is no question that the vast majority of Alabama fans are rooting for the Crimson Tide’s biggest rival, the Auburn Tigers.

The Future

The Crimson Tide has always been a dominant force in the SEC, but with recent changes in the coaching staff, they might start to look towards other teams in the NFL to support. Many people in Alabama have always rooted for the Saints, but with the recent success of the Rams, that might start to change. These changes could mean big things for the future of Alabama football.

The NFL Draft

Every year, the NFL Draft is held in April and brings with it a lot of excitement for NFL fans. For Alabama fans, the draft is a time to see which of their favorite players will be drafted by an NFL team. Alabama has had a lot of success in recent years, and this has led to a number of their players being drafted into the NFL.

In 2020, the Alabama Crimson Tide had eight players drafted into the NFL. This included first-round pick Jerry Jeudy, who was taken by the Denver Broncos with the 15th overall pick. Other Alabama players who were drafted included Henry Ruggs III (Oakland Raiders, 24th overall), Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins, 5th overall), and Xavier McKinney (New York Giants, 36th overall).

The eight players drafted from Alabama in 2020 tied for the most from any one school. Clemson also had eight players drafted, while Ohio State had seven players selected. This just goes to show how much talent there is on Alabama’s roster.

Looking to the future, there are a number of talented players on Alabama’s roster that could be drafted high in 2021 or beyond. Players like wide receiver DeVonta Smith, quarterback Mac Jones, and running back Najee Harris are all potential first-round picks in future drafts. So, whether you’re an NFL fan or an Alabama fan, the draft is always something to keep an eye on.

The NFL Rivalries

The NFL has seen its fair share of rivalries throughout the years. Some of them are through divisional play, while others have been developed through playoff battles. There are even a few that have been created simply because two teams happen to be good at the same time. Whatever the reason, these rivalries add an extra level of excitement to every game they play. Here are some of the most intense NFL rivalries currently in existence.

Packers vs. Bears: These two teams have been playing each other since 1921 and have met on the gridiron over 200 times. The rivalry intensified in the 1980s when the two teams met in the playoffs five times in eight years, with the Bears winning three of those match-ups. The Packers currently lead the all-time series 97-95-6.

Cowboys vs. Redskins: One of the most intense rivalries in all of sports, these two NFC East foes have been playing each other since 1960. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 71-45-2, but the Redskins have had recent success, winning four out of five games between 2012 and 2015.

Ravens vs Steelers: This AFC North rivalry is relatively new, as the Ravens only came into existence in 1996. Despite that, these two teams have already developed a strong hatred for each other. The Steelers currently lead the all-time series 22-10, but the Ravens won both meetings last season.