Every offseason, hope springs eternal. That’s when fanbases convince themselves that a fourth-round wide receiver will turn into Tyreek Hill, the new offensive coordinator is a genius, and this is finally the year everything clicks. Spoiler: it’s usually not.
But some teams are operating on a whole different level of offseason delusion. From Super Bowl favorites to rebuilding teams, we rank all 32 NFL franchises by how delusional their offseason hype is.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs aren’t delusional, they’re just good. If you go to three Super Bowls in a row, your fans can talk a little.
31. Baltimore Ravens
Ravens fans know they’re contenders, but they’ve also felt enough playoff heartbreak to keep their expectations in check. Quiet confidence beats offseason delusion every time.
30. Cincinnati Bengals
They’ve tasted real success and know what it looks like. If Joe Burrow’s healthy, the confidence feels earned, not exaggerated.
29. Washington Commanders
This time, the Washington Commanders hype is real. Jayden Daniels is a legit star, and the team has the weapons to go far again.
28. Detroit Lions
Lions fans are excited, but it’s been a slow build, not an explosion. This isn’t delusion; cautious belief finally turns into actual results.
27. Buffalo Bills
They’ve had a rough couple of playoff exits, but no one’s pretending they’re the second coming of the Patriots. The optimism is still there, but it’s not out of hand.
26. Philadelphia Eagles
Yes, they just won the Super Bowl, but Philly fans are too brutally honest to go into complete delusion. They’ll hype up the team and boo them in the same breath.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers fans are talking themselves into a run, but they’re not off the deep end yet. Has Mike Tomlin’s time come to an end? Some people say yes.
24. Seattle Seahawks
The energy is always weirdly positive in Seattle. But even with some new pieces, there’s only so much you can talk yourself into when the NFC is top-heavy.
23. San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco had a rough season in 2024, and the Brock Purdy hype has died. Will they be able to make another run in 2025? It’s possible, but fans are a little more cautious this time.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucs fans are acting like last year’s playoff run was more than a nice surprise. They’re not wrong to be hopeful, but let’s not crown Baker just yet.
21. Atlanta Falcons
There’s a lot of noise about how “underrated” they are, which is usually a red flag. We’ve all seen this movie before.
20. New Orleans Saints
Every offseason, it’s like Saints fans hit reset on reality. They live in a loop of thinking they’re one breakout season away, even though the script stays the same. And no more Derek Carr? Good luck!
19. Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson hype is somehow still lingering despite everything. Hey, at least they have Shedeur Sanders?!
18. Jacksonville Jaguars
The “Trevor Lawrence leap” has become an annual tradition. Unfortunately, the team around him hasn’t earned the same hype except for Travis Hunter. He deserves all the hype.
17. Houston Texans
The Texans are on the rise and everyone knows it, but let’s pump the brakes on “top three AFC team” talk. We need more than just making the playoffs to justify the noise.
16. Indianapolis Colts
The Anthony Richardson hype is everywhere, and the team doesn’t know who they are. There’s talent here, but the offseason talk is at least a year ahead of the reality.
15. Carolina Panthers
Every offseason, they convince themselves the rebuild is almost done. Spoiler alert: it’s not.
14. Minnesota Vikings
Vikings fans are already penciling in playoff dreams with vibes and a rookie. Hey, at least they have Justin Jefferson.
13. Denver Broncos
Sean Payton is getting the complete hype treatment. Broncos fans act like one coach and Bo Nix can get this team back to the Super Bowl. And, while they had a strong 2024, they have to back it up this year.
12. Los Angeles Rams
“Don’t count out the Rams” is becoming an offseason staple. But that’s usually said by people ignoring the cracks in the foundation.
11. Arizona Cardinals
The Kyler redemption arc is getting loud, and the “nobody believes in us” angle is back. It’s charming—but also a bit detached from the real world.
10. Green Bay Packers
Packers fans are in on Jordan Love. The sample size is small, but the hype is somehow massive.
9. New England Patriots
They’ve talked themselves into the Mayo era as some Belichick 2.0. It’s not the worst thing, but it’s early to be crowning anyone.
8. Tennessee Titans
Tennessee fans believe Cam Ward will save them. And while that may be true, it feels more like fan fiction than fact.
7. New York Giants
They’re trying to convince the world (and themselves) that Daniel Jones isn’t a problem. It’s a tough sell, and the hype around it keeps getting louder.
6. Miami Dolphins
Speed is fun, but fans act like this team has no flaws. Tua questions? Depth concerns? Doesn’t matter when the offseason goggles are on.
5. Chicago Bears
You get a star quarterback, and suddenly the city’s dreaming of a division title. It’s a nice thought, but the Bears always find a way to bring expectations back down to Earth.
4. Los Angeles Chargers
New year, same wild optimism. Chargers fans convince themselves this is the year, every year, despite literally no evidence.
3. Las Vegas Raiders
No team has less of a plan and more offseason noise than the Raiders. It’s impressive, really—pure chaos disguised as confidence.
2. New York Jets
The New York Jets are done with their Aaron Rodgers experiment, so now fans think everything will fall in place. The delusion here is so strong, it could power the entire tri-state area.
Read More: 15 NFL Teams That Rub Certain Football Fans the Wrong Way
1. Dallas Cowboys
Every offseason is the offseason for Cowboys fans. The hype cycle is a tradition at this point, even if the results rarely match it.
Read More: 15 NFL Teams That Lost the Plot After One Good Year
