Counterfeit NFL merchandise is drawing attention from fans across the country. An analysis of more than 550,000 online conversations over the past 12 months examined discussions about fake team gear, including jerseys, hats, and collectibles. The findings show that the volume of conversation and the share expressing negative sentiment vary considerably by team.
The Philadelphia Eagles lead the rankings, with 41,660 conversations about counterfeit merchandise. They also have the highest reported share of negative discussion: 38%. The Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Pittsburgh Steelers round out the top four by conversation volume.
These figures reflect online discussion, not confirmed cases of fraud or the number of counterfeit items sold. Still, they offer a snapshot of where fans are talking most about fake merchandise and expressing concern about quality, authenticity, and price.
## NFL Teams Ranked by Fake-Merchandise Conversations
The table lists each team’s conversation volume, the percentage of discussions classified as negative, and the average cost of a team jersey.
| Rank | Team | Conversations | Negative conversations | Average jersey cost |
|—:|—|—:|—:|—:|
| 1 | Philadelphia Eagles | 41,660 | 38% | $147.99 |
| 2 | Kansas City Chiefs | 28,442 | 15% | $131.13 |
| 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 24,828 | 18% | $141.79 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 22,844 | 16% | $152.25 |
| 5 | New York Giants | 20,540 | 14% | $158.85 |
| 6 | New York Jets | 19,516 | 13% | $138.65 |
| 7 | San Francisco 49ers | 19,419 | 12% | $143.81 |
| 8 | Cleveland Browns | 19,060 | 16% | $151.23 |
| 9 | Detroit Lions | 18,989 | 14% | $156.91 |
| 10 | Chicago Bears | 18,920 | 12% | $124.95 |
| 11 | Green Bay Packers | 18,481 | 14% | $134.03 |
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings | 18,168 | 12% | $142.79 |
| 13 | New England Patriots | 17,965 | 13% | $138.51 |
| 14 | Denver Broncos | 16,420 | 12% | $139.17 |
| 15 | Houston Texans | 16,367 | 15% | $127.39 |
| 16 | Washington Commanders | 15,923 | 14% | $154.05 |
| 17 | Buffalo Bills | 15,682 | 15% | $135.71 |
| 18 | Los Angeles Rams | 15,088 | 15% | $131.25 |
| 19 | Cincinnati Bengals | 14,868 | 17% | $134.63 |
| 20 | New Orleans Saints | 14,730 | 15% | $148.47 |
| 21 | Las Vegas Raiders | 14,529 | 14% | $134.71 |
| 22 | Seattle Seahawks | 14,485 | 12% | $136.17 |
| 23 | Tennessee Titans | 14,325 | 12% | $154.49 |
| 24 | Baltimore Ravens | 14,241 | 16% | $145.77 |
| 25 | Miami Dolphins | 14,188 | 14% | $137.89 |
| 26 | Atlanta Falcons | 14,006 | 11% | $135.31 |
| 27 | Carolina Panthers | 13,975 | 13% | $129.71 |
| 28 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 12,909 | 13% | $167.99 |
| 29 | Indianapolis Colts | 12,442 | 12% | $143.79 |
| 30 | Arizona Cardinals | 12,111 | 11% | $125.57 |
| 31 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 11,849 | 12% | $141.59 |
| 32 | Los Angeles Chargers | 11,847 | 13% | $129.53 |
The Eagles stand out not only for having the most conversations, but also for the largest negative share. By comparison, 15% of Chiefs-related discussions and 18% of Cowboys-related discussions were negative. The Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals had the lowest reported negative share, at 11% each.
Conversation totals are lower for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers, with 11,849 and 11,847 discussions, respectively. These figures describe online conversation volume and should not be taken as a direct measure of each team’s total fanbase or the actual prevalence of counterfeit products.
## States Most Frequently Appearing in Team Discussions
The analysis also examined which states appeared most often among the top five locations generating fake-merchandise conversations for each NFL team. California, Texas, and Florida led the list, appearing in the top five for 26, 25, and 24 teams, respectively.
| State or district | Number of teams for which it ranked among the top five |
|—|—:|
| California | 26 |
| Texas | 25 |
| Florida | 24 |
| New York | 19 |
| Tennessee | 10 |
| Arizona | 5 |
| Ohio | 5 |
| Georgia | 4 |
| Illinois | 4 |
| Missouri | 4 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 |
| Massachusetts | 3 |
| Virginia | 3 |
| Wisconsin | 3 |
| Colorado | 2 |
| District of Columbia | 2 |
| Maryland | 2 |
| Michigan | 2 |
| Nevada | 2 |
| New Jersey | 2 |
| Washington | 2 |
| Connecticut | 1 |
| Indiana | 1 |
| Louisiana | 1 |
| Minnesota | 1 |
| North Carolina | 1 |
| South Carolina | 1 |
California ranked highest among fans of the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Chargers. It also ranked second for conversations about the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Seattle Seahawks.
The state rankings show where discussions were concentrated in the data; they do not establish that counterfeit merchandise is more common in those places. Large fan communities and active online marketplaces may contribute to the volume of discussion, but the figures alone do not identify why a state appears prominently.
## What the Findings Mean for Fans
The results highlight the challenge fans may face when shopping for team apparel and memorabilia online. Discussions mention concerns about whether products are genuine, how well they are made, and whether prices are fair. Fans considering a purchase can check seller details and product information carefully, particularly when an offer seems difficult to verify.
The analysis covers social media and other online discussions for all 32 NFL teams. It measured conversation volume, positive and negative sentiment, and the five states most associated with engagement for each team. The conversation data was drawn from Brandwatch.
The figures provide a broad view of what fans are discussing, rather than a count of verified counterfeit sales. Even so, the scale of the conversation—more than 550,000 discussions over 12 months—shows that fake NFL merchandise is a prominent topic among supporters, with Eagles fans expressing the most negative sentiment in the analysis.
