Jason HoffmanCincinnati Enquirer
Updated Aug. 17, 2026, 2:16 p.m. ET
- The Cincinnati Bengals fanbase ranks in the top five of the NFL, according to a new Nielsen study.
- The Nielsen Scarborough NFL <a href="https://comicvibe.com/nielsen-ranks-chiefs-fans-second-in-nfl-fandom-index/" title="Nielsen ranks Chiefs fans second in ‘NFL Fandom Index’”>Fandom Index also includes the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Philadelphia Eagles in its top five.
- This inaugural index measures fan avidity beyond simple population size, highlighting passionate fanbases in smaller markets.
- The Bengals and Eagles secured their top-five spots due to their consistent high rankings across multiple fan engagement metrics.
Congratulations, Cincinnati Bengals fans! You are top five in the NFL, according to the Nielsen Scarborough NFL Fandom Index. The top five teams are the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles
This is the first year for the index, which Nielsen says is a “… comprehensive study moves beyond simple headcount to identify where the sport’s pulse beats strongest, revealing that America’s most avid fans are often found in the heart of its mid-sized legacy markets.”
The Bengals, Bills, Packers and Chiefs reside in some of the smallest media markets in the NFL while the Eagles are in the No. 5 media market in the league.
As for the Bengals and Eagles both being in the top five, Nielsen said: “Neither market leads a single metric outright, yet both land in the top five on five of the eight questions the index tracks. That breadth, rather than any one standout behavior, is what pushes the two cities to No. 5 and No. 4 overall.”
The Bengals host the Chicago Bears on Aug. 22 at Paycor Stadium before traveling to face the Eagles to close out the preseason on Aug. 27.
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