You're sitting on a couch in Omaha or maybe a bar in Portland, looking at the TV. It’s Sunday. You’ve got the wings, the beer, and the jersey on. But that jersey represents a city three states away. It’s a weird reality for millions. Honestly, it’s kind of wild that in a country obsessed with football, over 30 states don't actually have a team to call their own. We’re talking about states without NFL teams, a list that includes some of the fastest-growing regions in America.
NFL fans are everywhere. But the teams? They’re clustered.
Look at the map. You’ll see a massive "dead zone" in the Great Plains and the Mountain West. If you live in Montana, your "local" team might be the Seahawks, even though Seattle is an 11-hour drive from Missoula. It’s about geography, sure, but mostly it’s about the cold, hard math of television markets and corporate sponsorships. The NFL isn't just a sports league; it's a multi-billion dollar entertainment machine that values "TV households" above almost everything else.
The Massive Gap: Mapping the States Without NFL Teams
Why hasn't the league expanded to 34 or 36 teams yet? Commissioner Roger Goodell has dropped hints about international expansion—London, Munich, maybe even Mexico City—but domestic fans in places like Oklahoma or Alabama are left wondering when it's their turn.
There are currently 18 states that host at least one NFL franchise. This leaves 32 states—plus the District of Columbia—without a team of their own. (Technically, the Washington Commanders play in Maryland, and both New York teams play in New Jersey, but we usually count them by the "market" they represent).
When you look at the list of states without NFL teams, some omissions feel like a personal insult to football culture. Take Alabama. It’s the heart of football country. People there live and breathe the sport. Yet, the state has no NFL team. Why? Because the college game—specifically the Crimson Tide and Auburn—is so dominant that an NFL team might actually struggle to find a foothold in the local economy. It sounds crazy, but the competition for the entertainment dollar is real.
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Then there’s the Pacific Northwest and the Inland Empire. Once you leave Seattle, you’ve got nothing until you hit Denver or Minneapolis.
The "Market Size" Problem
Business is business. The NFL looks at the Nielsen DMA (Designated Market Area) rankings. If a city isn't in the top 20 or 30, it’s a tough sell.
- Portland, Oregon: Always at the top of the "most likely" list. They have the Blazers (NBA) and the Timbers (MLS), showing they support pro sports. But they're sandwiched between Seattle and the Bay Area.
- Salt Lake City, Utah: Booming population. Incredible growth. But is the market big enough to support 70,000 seats every Sunday?
- San Antonio, Texas: This one is a head-scratcher. It’s one of the largest cities in the US. Jerry Jones, however, famously guards the Cowboys' "territory" with a legal and political ferocity that makes expansion into South Texas nearly impossible.
The Cultural Impact of Living in a Team-Less State
Being a fan in a state without a team changes how you watch the game. You become a "free agent" fan. You might follow a player (like Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow) rather than a city. Or you inherit a team from your parents who moved from Chicago to South Carolina thirty years ago.
In states like Nebraska, the "local" team is whoever is winning or whoever is closest. You see a mix of Chiefs, Broncos, and Vikings gear. It’s a patchwork. It lacks that unified "city-on-fire" feeling you get in Philly or Pittsburgh when the local team is on a playoff run.
Interestingly, some of the most loyal fanbases exist in these "empty" states. The "Red Sea" of Chiefs fans extends deep into Kansas and Arkansas. The "Who Dat" nation isn't just New Orleans; it’s the entire Gulf Coast. This regional loyalty is exactly why the NFL is hesitant to expand. If you put a team in St. Louis (again) or Oklahoma City, you might just be cannibalizing fans who are already buying Sunday Ticket and watching the Chiefs. You aren't necessarily "creating" new fans; you're just moving them around the ledger.
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The St. Louis and San Diego Ghost Towns
We have to talk about the "former" states—well, cities. Missouri still has the Chiefs in Kansas City, but St. Louis is a gaping hole. California lost the Chargers to LA and the Raiders to Vegas.
The move of the Raiders to Nevada was a seismic shift. For decades, Nevada was one of those states without NFL teams that everyone assumed would stay that way because of the gambling stigma. Then, the Supreme Court changed the game on sports betting, and suddenly, Vegas was the prettiest girl at the dance. It proved that the NFL will move to a smaller market if the stadium deal is "record-breakingly" good.
Public money. That’s the secret sauce. If a state without a team—say, Oklahoma—offered a $2 billion, fully-funded stadium, the NFL would listen. But most taxpayers are getting smarter. They don't want to foot the bill for billionaires.
Why Some States Will Never Get a Team
Let's be real for a second. Some states are just never going to see an NFL kickoff on their soil.
Vermont? Too small.
Wyoming? Beautiful, but not enough people.
Hawaii? The travel logistics are a nightmare for a 17-week season.
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But then there’s the "Canton" effect. Some places are too historical to ignore but too small to host. The NFL started in small towns like Decatur, Illinois, and Portsmouth, Ohio. Those days are gone. Now, it’s about luxury suites and tech hubs. If your state doesn’t have a massive airport and at least five Fortune 500 headquarters, you’re probably staying on the "without" list.
The International Threat
If you're in a state like Virginia or Oregon and you’re hoping for a team, your biggest competitor isn't another US city. It's London. It's Mexico City. It's maybe even Toronto.
The NFL is looking at global growth. They see 60 million people in the UK and realize that’s a bigger "market" than any remaining US state. Every time the Jaguars play a "home" game in Wembley, fans in cities like Orlando or Louisville should be a little nervous. The league is outgrowing the borders of the United States.
Actionable Steps for Fans in States Without NFL Teams
If you live in one of these "blackout" zones, you don't have to just settle for whatever the local affiliate decides to broadcast. Here is how you actually navigate being an NFL fan without a local team:
- Leverage NFL+ and Sunday Ticket: Since the move to YouTube TV, getting out-of-market games is easier, though expensive. If you’re in a state without a team, this is basically a requirement to follow your specific franchise.
- Join Regional Fan Clubs: Almost every major city in a "team-less" state has a "Packers Bar" or a "Steelers Club." These are vital. They provide the community aspect that you lose by not having a local stadium.
- Monitor the Relocation Committee: Keep an eye on the "Lease Expiration" dates for teams like the Jaguars, Titans, or Bills (though many are signing new long-term deals). Relocation is more likely than expansion in the next five years.
- Support Local Pro-Am and UFL: If you want the NFL to notice your market, you have to prove you'll show up for pro football. The UFL (United Football League) often uses these "orphan" markets as testing grounds. If you don't show up for a UFL game in St. Louis or Birmingham, the NFL definitely isn't coming.
The map of the NFL is unlikely to change drastically by 2027, but the way we consume the game makes the physical location of the team matter less every year. Still, there’s nothing quite like having a hometown team. For the fans in those 32 states, the wait continues.