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By David Kim•Last Updated May 14, 2025

NFL Team Coverage: States Without Professional Football Franchises

States without NFL teams: America’s football deserts

The national football league stand as America’s nigh popular sports league, with 32 teams spread across the country. Nonetheless, the distribution of these franchises is far from equal, leave many states without a professional football team to call their own. Understand which state lack NFL representation offer insight into the league’s expansion strategy, population demographics, and the economic factors that influence team locations.

The complete list of states without NFL teams

Presently, 22 states do not have a nNFLfranchise within their borders. These states include:

Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Carolina
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wyoming

This leave 28 states plus the District of Columbia as homes to the NFL’s 32 teams, with some states host multiple franchises.

Population centers vs. NFL presence

The absence of NFL teams in certain states oftentimes correlate with population density and market size. States like Wyoming, Vermont, and Alaska have comparatively small populations, make them less attractive for franchise ownership. The NFL prioritize markets that can support the massive infrastructure, ticket sales, and media attention require for a successful team.

Interestingly, some populous states like Virginia (with over 8.5 million residents )lack teams despite have substantial potential fan bases. Virginia residents typically support teams from neighboring regions like the waWashingtonommanders or baBaltimore Ravens

Notable states without NFL teams

Oregon

Despite being habitation to Portland, a major metropolitan area, and have passionate sports fans who support the NBA’s trailblazers, oOregonremain without aanfNFLranchise. The state have a strong college football presence with the orOregonucks and orOregontate beavers, but professional football have hitherto to establish a permanent home hither.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has demonstrated its ability to support professional sports through the success of theNBAa’sOklahoma Cityy thunder. Notwithstanding, the state howeverlacksaanNFLl presence despite its rich football culture and the popularity of college teams like theOklahoma Soonerss andOklahomaa state cowboys.

Alabama

Maybe no state without a nNFLteam have a stronger football culture than aAlabama Home to powerhouse college programs at the university of aAlabamaand auburn university, the state bbreathesfootball. However, professional teams have historically opted for larger markets in neighboring states likGeorgiai((Atlanta Falcons)) and Tennessee (tTennessee Titans)

Economic factors behind NFL team distribution

The absence of NFL teams in many states reflect calculate business decisions kinda than a lack of football enthusiasm. Establish and maintain a nNFLfranchise require:

A metropolitan area with sufficient population to fill a stadium regularly
Corporate presence for sponsorships and luxury box sales
Public or private funding for stadium construction and maintenance
Media market size that attract television contracts
Disposable income among residents to purchase tickets and merchandise

States with smaller economies or less concentrated population centers oftentimes fail to meet these criteria, disregarding of their passion for the sport.

Historical shifts in NFL team locations

The current distribution of NFL teams result from decades of franchise movements, expansions, and relocations. Some states that presently lack teams antecedently host franchises that former relocates:

St. Louis, Missouri

Lose the rams to Los Angeles
San Diego, California

Lose the chargers to Los Angeles
Oakland, California

Lose the raiders to Las Vegas

These relocations demonstrate the fluid nature of franchise geography, suggest that the list of states without teams could change in the future.

College football dominance in states without NFL teams

In many states without NFL franchises, college football fill the void with remarkable success. Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, Nebraska, and Mississippi all host college programs with national followings and deep root traditions. In these regions, Saturday college games oftentimes generate more local passion than Sunday NFL contests.

This college football dominance sometimes reduces the perceive need foran NFL team, as the market for football entertainment is already advantageously serve at the collegiate level.

Media coverage and fan allegiance in states without teams

Residents of states without NFL teams typically adopt teams from neighboring states or maintain connections to teams from places they antecedently live. Television coverage patterns reflect these allegiances, with networks broadcast games relevant to regional interests kinda than purely adhere to state boundaries.

For example:

Alabama residents frequently support the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans saints, or Tennessee Titans
Iowa fans oftentimes follow the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago bears, or Kansas City chiefs
Oklahoma viewers typically align with the Dallas Cowboys or Kansas City chiefs

These extend fan bases create marketing opportunities that transcend state lines, allow teams to claim multi state regions as their territory.

Potential expansion or relocation candidates

The NFL has maintained 32 teams since thHouston Texansns join in 2002, create a balanced structure of two conferences with four divisions of four teams each. Any expansion woulprobablyle need to add teams in pairs to maintain this balance.

Among states presently without teams, several stands out as potential candidates for futureNFLl expansion or relocation:

Nevada

While Las Vegas latterly welcome the raiders from Oakland, the states grow population and tourism base economy could potentially support another franchise in the future, though this rremainsunlikely in the near term.

Oregon

Portland represents a sizable market with prove sports enthusiasm. The city’s success with thetrailblazerss suggest potential for NFL support, though stadium financing remain a significant hurdle.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City’s successful transition to a nNBAmarket demonstrate the state’s capacity to embrace professional sports. The region’s football passion could translate to strong nNFLsupport.

Virginia

The populous northern Virginia suburbs of Washington d.c. have been discussed as a potential location for a new stadium, though this woulprobablyle involve the commanders sooner thaaan totally new franchise.

The NFL’s regional strategy

The NFL has historically pursued a regional sooner than state base strategy for team placement. This approach recognize that team support extend beyond state boundaries, allow franchises to develop fan bases across multiple states.

Examples of this regional strategy include:

The New England patriots represent six northeastern states
The Carolina Panthers draw support from both north and South Carolina
The Tennessee Titans attract fans from parts of Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi

This regional approach explain why some populous states lack teams while others host multiple franchises in major metropolitan areas.

How fans connect in states without teams

Football enthusiasts in states without NFL franchises have developed various ways to maintain connections to the sport:

Travel to games

dedicated fans frequently make regular trips to neighboring states to attend live games
Sports bars and watch parties

communal viewing experiences create local fan communities
Fantasy football

participation in fantasy leagues keep fans engage disregarding of geographical connections
Merchandise sales

team gear allow fans to display allegiance despite distance
Social media communities

online fan groups connect supporters across geographical boundaries

These adaptations demonstrate that while NFL teams may be concentrate in certain states, football fandom extend nationally.

The future of NFL geography

The distribution of NFL teams continue to evolve in response to demographic shifts, economic factors, and stadium deals. Several trends may influence future changes:

Population migration

as aAmericansrelocate to the sun belt and mountain west, these regions may become more attractive for team locations
International expansion

the nNFLs grow focus on global markets could potentially reduce emphasis on domestic expansion
Stadium financing challenges

public resistance to taxpayer fund stadiums may limit relocation options
Media landscape changes

streaming services and digital media may reduce the importance of physical team location

These factors will suggest that while some states may will gain NFL teams in the future, others will probable will remain without franchises indefinitely.

Conclusion: beyond state boundaries

The absence of NFL teams in 22 states reflect complex economic, demographic, and historical factors kinda than a lack of football interest. The league’s regional approach to team distribution acknowledge that fandom transcends state lines, create a national football culture despite geographical gaps in franchise locations.

For residents of states without NFL teams, college football, adopt professional allegiances, and modern media access ensure that professional football remain accessible and engaging. The passion for the sport in these regions demonstrate that while NFL franchises may be concentrate in certain states, football’s cultural significance extend throughout the nation.

Whether cheer for a team from a neighboring state or focus on college programs, football fans across America find ways to participate in the nation’s almost popular sport, disregarding of their proximity to a nNFLstadium.