As both the Premier League and NFL go into their preseasons, we’ve created a not-so-definitive guide (I cannot stress that enough) on what NFL team you and your mates should follow based on the football team you support in England.
Something fun for fans or a guide to help inform those looking to get into the NFL this year!
Arsenal – San Fransisco 49ers or Baltimore Ravens
Arsenal are a team that is known for its attacking play, great results and nice stadium – but with one thing that alludes them more recently: a title. The 49ers and Ravens are both teams that check those boxes, do so with the same consistency, and have that feel of being top tier and a really well made outfit.
Aston Villa – Cleveland Browns or Detroit Lions
The Cleveland Browns is in part due to the connection with former owner (of both sides) Randy Lerner. However, there is a deeper connection here. Villa and the Browns were both part of the founding of their leagues, both part of cities that have had to reinvent themselves, and both trying desperately to get back to former glories which are now generations old. The Lions have a similar arc and the ruthlessness of their rise in the past year has that Unai Emery 2023-24 season feel to boot.
Bournemouth – Tennessee Titans or Washington Commanders
Some of these are going to be more than others as it proves difficult to connect dots between really different markets. However, AFC Bournemouth have solidified themselves as a part of the Premier League despite being unable to invest heavily. The Commanders have had haphazard ownership of late but continue to strike up wins; meanwhile with the Titans, they aren’t the best team but you also find yourself not wanting to play them at their home – something that’s synonymous with Bournemouth, I find.
Brentford – New York Jets
A passionate yet smaller fanbase than their illustrious neighbours in the capital, and whose teams are known for tough defenses, lively characters and a never-say-die attitude – even when their results don’t pan out!
Brighton & Hove Albion – Los Angeles Chargers or New Orleans Saints
These teams are all in areas that are considered cool or party areas (that one more by out-of-towners such as myself), and play into it somewhat with their branding. The Chargers comparison is definitely more in line with their style of play though – attacking and always looking to give youth a chance. The Saints recent downturn in fortunes after showing promise and having to offload players is synonymous of Brighton last season too so there’s another fit.
Chelsea – Los Angeles Rams
When the Los Angeles Rams announced they were moving to the LA Coliseum and went on the offensive in terms of maximising picks and cash to create a team of superstars, Chelsea immediately came to mind. The fact that they then stayed aggressive until they won a Super Bowl at their $5.5 billion stadium a few years later felt very similar to the Roman Abramhovic years in West London.
The perception of wealth, being in a high-end area in California and their aggressive roster building approach would definitely keep Chelsea fans interested. Their recent unexpected dip hits similar to Chelsea’s last couple of years also!
Crystal Palace – Houston Texans
The forgotten team for many years in the big city, with promising potential. Sounds a lot like the Houston Texans. Overshadowed by their interstate competition in the Dallas Cowboys, but a young core is driving some excitement for better days ahead.
Everton – Chicago Bears or Denver Broncos
I usually pair Aston Villa and Everton fairly close together for these things, and the Bears and Broncos seem to match a similar vibe to what I had for Villa fans. Everton are a historic team in English football, in a major town with a traditional fanbase. Something that fits the aesthetic of both the Bears and the Broncos well.
Fulham – Jacksonville Jaguars
For anyone living under a rock as a Fulham or Jaguars fan, Shahid Khan owns both clubs and has looked to put his distinct flair on both. With their long-standing commitment to playing in London, the Jaguars are getting accustomed to being the ‘quintessentially London’ team in the NFL – and once Fulham’s Craven Cottage renovations are complete – both teams will have pools as a highlight of their stadiums. Wild.
Ipswich Town – Carolina Panthers
I’m old enough to remember Ipswich’s wild ups and downs the last time they were in the Premier League – that plus the real highs and lows of their relegations and promotions has a similar feel to the highs of the Cam Newton era of the Carolina Panthers and their struggles since.
Leicester City – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A team that has had some recent success all of a sudden, and is now looking for some consistency after a bit of a downturn. Two teams that I would say are more relevant in the past decade than they have been in their respective histories, looking to make a bigger impression at the higher end of their respective sports.
Liverpool – New England Patriots or Green Bay Packers
I often find that the Boston Celtics are very much the Liverpool of basketball. A top-tier city, a rich sporting history and a brand that surpasses itself. The Boston connection I feel carries for Liverpool fans; and with the Patriots’ recent dynasty – there is also the recent brush with success. The Green Bay Packers are one of the most storied franchises in the NFL with a traditional yet passionate fanbase, an iconic stadium and atmosphere. Sounds about right for Liverpool fans.
Manchester City – Kansas City Chiefs
If Cityzens can excuse the red colour of the Chiefs uniforms, it’s quite obvious as to why the comparison is made. Recent dominance for both sides doesn’t look to break anytime soon. Let’s move swiftly on!
Manchester United – Dallas Cowboys or Miami Dolphins
Manchester United is one of the most instantly recognisable brands in world football, and dominated the sport at several points in the last 50-60 years. Both the Cowboys and the Dolphins are two of the biggest brands in the NFL who dominated the sport for stretches in the same timeframe – and arguably still hold that perception as a force today (Dallas’ moniker as ‘America’s Team’ for example). Something United fans and observers no doubt understand this side of the pond.
Newcastle United – Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills or Minnesota Vikings
Give me the best and most wild fanbases for Newcastle United. Seahawks fans are known as the Twelfth Man for their earthquake-inducing cheering in Seattle. Meanwhile, Bills fans face freezing conditions bare-chested (very familiar for Newcastle fans) and smashing tables. The Vikings provide that more ‘football is a religion’ vibe that Newcastle put down – with their purple and gold colourway as iconic as Newcastle’s black and white stripes. If you’re going for a team that best matches their current performance – the Bills have built a great team and pushed close but not been able to get to the top table the past few years – the others are a bit more off the pace.
Nottingham Forest – Pittsburgh Steelers
For Forest, let’s find a franchise in a working class city, with past glory looking to find itself again. The Pittsburgh Steelers is one of the league’s more successful franchises in years past and Pittsburgh itself is a city with a strong sports pedigree (like Nottingham), and a fanbase that is looking to see their team come back to prominence.
Southampton – Indianapolis Colts
I immediately put the Colts down for Southampton fans and it’s difficult to explain but it’s a great fit. Great tradition of being able to nurture young talent similar to that at the Saints (the English ones – I guess the New Orleans Saints are an option if just for the name).
Tottenham Hotspur – Cincinnati Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders or New York Giants
Right, stay with me here. Spurs are basically all three of these teams combined. They are built up through the urban metropolis of the nation’s capital – like the New York Giants – and as such it does share a lot of that hype from being in the capital and that in turn drives roster building. The Raiders recently cashed in their chips and took the team from Oakland for a stadium in the bright lights of Vegas and are a very flashy side – something that Spurs have also done since moving to their new stadium.
Finally, the Bengals are in here because both them and Tottenham have a reputation of building teams on a limited budget, but are usually competitive. Both sides in recent years have started to shake off this moniker and have been towards the higher end of the table more often.
West Ham United – Philadelphia Eagles
Big city; working class fan-base that’s very passionate; haphazard success but mainly consistently average or above. Simple as.
Wolverhampton Wanderers – Atlanta Falcons or Arizona Cardinals
This one was difficult, I won’t lie. Many other articles chop and change who aligns with Wolves. I would argue that a team like the Cardinals or Falcons would be a good fit. Both teams build teams that can play some attractive football, but they have not found success all that much. Definitely both franchises that believe they have something to prove.
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