Poll Finds Raiders, 49ers Aren't Close To Being 'America's Team'
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - The 49ers and Raiders have long been in the discussion as the most followed franchises in America, but the latest Harris poll of fans found that neither is a top five response when football fans are asked what team they root for.
For decades, the Dallas Cowboys have called themselves "America's Team," and for most years of the poll - dating back to 1998 - that was actually true. That changed dramatically this season, when a poll of 1,275 football fans found that the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Green Bay Packers are all more popular than the Cowboys.
The results are strongly tied to team success, with the Seattle Seahawks cracking the top ten for the first time ever (number 6) following their first Super Bowl win.
Three consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances have helped the 49ers trend up in recent seasons from their 2011 low point as the 16th most popular team in football. As of 2014, they rank 7th overall. From 1998-2003 the niners were consistently a top five franchise, likely still coasting off of their dominance from the late '80s and '90s.
As you might expect, the popularity of the Raiders topped out at number three over all in 2002-2003, following their appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII. They've since tumbled all the way to number 18. However, the real low point game in 2010 when they were the 25th most popular team in the league.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans tied for the least popular team this year. Jacksonville has had that spot all to itself since 2009.
