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The Teams Known for the Most Dedicated Cult Fans in Sports

Will Brown by Will Brown, July 28, 2025

Green Bay Packers cult sports fans

Behind the biggest US sports franchises are hordes of passionate fans who will show up rain, hail, or shine to cheer on their teams. But why are some fans known for being a little too eager, with their devotion wading into cult-like territory? In this guide to the cult fans in sports, we’ve discussed the most controversial fan bases for teams across the five major US leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and MLS.

Which Team Has Crazy Sports Fans?

Before breaking down the major league teams with cult fans, we’ve discussed what differentiates these fan bases from standard backers, from bizarre rituals to strange chants. We’ve then looked at the NFL’s craziest fans, including the Packers, the BIlls, and the Raiders.

We’ve then covered the other major leagues, including the Knicks and the Warriors in the NBA, the Canadiens and the Knights in the NHL, and Red Sox and Yankees in MLB. What we’ve found is that while each fan base is different, each share an undying love for their teams that border on madness.

About Major League Teams with Cult Fans

Before we get into our explanation of cult fans in sports, it’s worth looking at the understood behaviours exhibited by people in religious cults. These characteristics include an unquestioning loyalty to a leader or idea, isolation from other communities, an inability to doubt their leader, and an us-vs-them mentality.

Cults tend to use specific jargon or chants in ritualistic displays of commitment, express conformity with a group through dress or mannerisms, and will happily invest much of their money to back their group. It’s not hard to see how many feverish sports fans exhibit most of these traits when backing their sports teams.

Whether it’s an inability to question their team even when they’re in the wrong or forming strong rivalries with opponents, cult-like fandoms tend to ignore logic in favor of emotion. This leads them to be susceptible even to poor decisions when online sports betting, as they may back their team regardless of whether or not they’re likely to win.

The National Football League (NFL)

As America’s favorite sports league, the NFL is home to some of the most passionate and ritualistic fans in professional sports. The most famous among them are the Buffalo Bills’ “Bills Mafia”, a wild fanbase that is known for its excessive tailgates and showing up to Highmark Stadium despite extreme weather events.

This is likely due to the team’s long-term status as league underdogs, with fans backing their team despite relentless heartbreaks on and off the field. While the Mafia takes pride in this, they’re also known to raise considerable funds for charities related to Bill’s players.

As the only publicly-owned NFL team, the Green Bay Packers “Cheeseheads” have also developed a reputation for being crazy sports fans. Packers fans wear cheesehead hats without irony, perform the “Lambeau Leap” celebration to commemorate touchdowns, and travel far and wide to the small Wisonsin town to revel among fellow fans.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steeler Nation” waves their Terrible Towels in a bizarre tradition that expresses their regional pride, carrying them for generations. Meanwhile, the “Raiders Nation” fandom of the Las Vegas team don Viking-inspired costumes and face paint while speaking in a distinct jargon and chatning incessantly. This creates an intimidating if not despised display of loyalty unlike anything else in the league.

The National Basketball Association (NBA)

Despite not winning an NBA Championship for over 50 years, the New York Knicks fans are known for displaying a near-religious devotion to their team. Even famous sports fans have been seen side-court going mad for the team at MSG during winning and losing seasons, complete with Patrick Ewing jerseys and heckling opponents en masse.

The Golden State Warriors fans have developed into something of a cult too, with die-hard fans moving on from the “Roaracle” Arena to the Chase Center with the same fervent passion. Common habits from the Dub Nation include chanting “Waaaaaariors!” as their team plays and an inability to criticize their team even when in the wrong.

Unsurprisingly, Boston Celtics fans maintain a fervent loyalty to the team and it’s glorious past, buoyed by the Celtics’ 17 championships and strong rivalries. Fans are often seen in shamrock face paint and Larry Bird jerseys, with chants of “Beat LA!” common during Lakers showdowns. Even Kyrie Irving expressed awe at their passion, saying players must “buy in” to the fandom or face backlash.

We also can’t talk about cult fans in sports without mentioning the fandom of the Chicago Bulls. Bolstered by the Michael Jordan era, the current fanbase still lives in the afterglow of the ‘90s dynasty, wearing throwback red-and-black gear to display their loyalty. Although the “Cult of Jordan” is seen as arrogant and delusional by other fans, this isn’t enough to deflate Bulls fans.

The National Hockey League (NHL)

There are few, if any, crazy sports fans quite like those of the Montreal Canadiens. These are fans that started a riot in 1955 that shook Montreal after a shock upset revolving around a player. Today, the fervor is no less intense amongst “Habs”, with bilingual chants, renditions of “O Canada” and “Olé, Olé, Olé”, and superstitious rituals such as growing playoff bears just few of the strange behaviours.

The fans of the Chicago Blackhawks too are known for their intensity, with a common ritual being their deafening roars during the national anthem. While the team has always had die-hard fans, they have been emboldened after strong runs in the 2010s. Common displays include wearing Indian head sweaters and other specific jerseys for superstitious reasons.

Also considered to be among some of sport’s most wild fans, the backers of the Philadelphia Flyers are known to continue on the team’s “Broad Street Bullies” reputation. Their mascot, Gritty, has developed a cult following and embodies the team’s chaotic energy. Flyers fans are known for their loud cheers and even louder boos that intimidate guests at the Wells Fargo Center.

Interestingly, despite only being a new franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights have also already developed a cult-like following. Fans take part in the medieval pregame theatrics by wearing glowing helmets and performing drumlines. The “Knights Win!” chant and throwing flamingos on ice are two rituals often seen after a victory.

Major League Baseball (MLB)

It’s hard to whittle down which teams have a cult like following in Major League Baseball due to the long and storied history of the sport. However, it won’t be controversial to say that the Boston Red Sox fans are the most obvious. Much of this comes from enduring an 86-year championship drought despite unquestioning loyalty, which has birthed many superstitions and rituals.

These include singing “Sweet Caroline” in the seventh stretch, touching the Green Monster and Pesky Pole, and honoring Ted Williams as a folk hero. Standing ovations for first responders and chants of “Yankees Suck!” are also commonplace. Of course, fans of the New York Yankees are no less passionate.

With their pinstripe pride, Derek Jeter worship, and an at-times delusional expectation of winning are characteristic of Yankees fans, as are the rowdy “Bleacher Creatures”. Elsewhere, faithful of the Chicago Cubs saw the team endure decades of heartbreak at Wrigley Field before their momentous 2016 World Series win. Superstitions like the “rally cap”, throwing back opposing home, and seventh-inning stretch sing-alongs remain well intact.

Unlike some teams with cult fans, the base behind the St. Louis Cardinals is often highly-regarded for their intense respect of the game, with Busch Stadium often feeling like a sacred site. Considered by some to be the “Best Fans in Baseball,” Cardinals fans wear their jerseys with pride and favor etiquette over intimidation.

Major League Soccer (MLS)

As Major League Soccer explodes in popularity across the USA, so does the visibility of its most passionate fans. The Seattle Sounders fans are known to march in unison to the stadium behind drumlines, waving flags and singing throughout the match. Each goal is met with a choreographed celebration, while losses are met with full-time chants of support.

The Portland Timbers’ “Timbers Army” sees lumberjack mascot Timber Joey saw a slab from a log after each goal, as custom chants fill the air. The LAFC’s 3252 supporter group also performs synchronized call-and-response chants, jumps in unison, and delivers a “Shoulder to Shoulder” anthem in a wall of sound that is spectacular and intimidating.

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