The study, conducted by a popular fantasy and football analytics site, polled 3,070 NFL fans to identify which players they hate the most. While Chiefs legends Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce topped the list for many national fans, the two Ohio–Pennsylvania rivals’ supporters pointed their ire at their own quarterbacks. For Pittsburgh, 18% of respondents selected Aaron Rodgers as the player they despise the most in the league. For Cleveland, 33% named Deshaun Watson as the player they most dislike.
This dynamic is striking given the Steelers’ recent on-field success and the Browns’ challenging years. Rodgers, a veteran quarterback nearing the end of his playing career, led the Steelers to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth in the 2025 season, throwing 24 touchdowns against 7 interceptions. His prominent perception as “most hated” among Steelers fans is, in part, surprising because the team is aiming to build a sustainable playoff contender around a veteran leader who has yet to be sidelined by off-field issues. The broader fan sentiment toward Rodgers may reflect a combination of his long career, high profile, and the frustrations that sometimes accompany veteran quarterbacks who are still performing at a high level.
Deshaun Watson’s situation with the Browns is more complex. Watson arrived in Cleveland amid substantial controversy and a fully guaranteed $230 million contract after a late-2020s trade. Since joining the Browns, his tenure has been marked by injury, inconsistent play, and public questions about accountability. Browns fans’ dislike for Watson aligns with the broader narrative around his tenure in Cleveland, as the team has struggled to recapture the peak performance many expected when he was acquired.
The 2026 season opened with the Steelers beating the Atlanta Falcons 20-13, a positive start that suggested progress and potential for the team under Rodgers. By contrast, the Browns opened with a defeat, losing 34-10 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, which only amplified the scrutiny and dialogue around their quarterback situation.
Rivalries in the AFC North are historically intense, fueled by long-standing competition among teams that are geographically and culturally neighboring. The 2026 survey underscores a curious, light-hearted aspect of rival fandom: even among bitter adversaries, fans can converge on a shared sentiment about the very players who are supposed to lead their teams.
For readers seeking deeper analysis, there are several related topics worth exploring. These include evaluating how veteran quarterbacks age and influence team trajectories, the impact of high-profile contracts on fan perceptions, and how early-season performances shape public sentiment about quarterbacks. Additionally, broader NFL trends—such as how fan loyalties shift when teams face rising competition or rebuilding phases—offer rich context for understanding these dynamics.
If you’re following ongoing coverage, you might also enjoy expert discussions on early-season QB rankings, award predictions after Week 1, and evaluations of players who could swing a team’s fortunes in upcoming games.
