It’s often said during national broadcast games that Pittsburgh Steelers fans travel well. The fact of the matter is that Steelers fans are literally everywhere.
Steelers Nation is a vast and passionate group. No other fanbase takes over road stadiums like Steelers fans. The waiting list for Steelers season tickets is over 20 years also. There’s truly nothing comparable in the NFL.
That’s why it came to no surprise that Michelle Smallmon of ESPN radio ranked the Steelers’ fanbase as the best in the NFL.
“Pittsburgh Steelers fans I think are the most loyal fans in the NFL. Like the Packers, they have that rich history. This team is the identity of the city, and not the other way around,” Smallmon said. “Anywhere that the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to, their fans follow. Even when I went to Canton for Dick Vermeil’s Hall of Fame induction, I felt like I was at a Steelers home game because there was so many Steelers fans there. They’re incredibly loyal, they’re tough, they’re very knowledgeable. I don’t think there’s a better fanbase in the NFL than the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
Smallmon had the Steelers’ fanbase ranked ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets.
"THIS TEAM IS THE IDENTITY OF THE CITY" @msmallmon has the @steelers as her number one fan base in the NFL https://t.co/lTg7XpCcb0 pic.twitter.com/q4bmysy0bW
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) July 12, 2024
Former Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman and current ESPN analyst Chris Canty admitted that playing in Pittsburgh is a tough environment for road teams and fans.
“I will say this, the Pittsburgh Steelers fans had that fear factor when it comes to rolling up in there if you’re a fan of the visiting team,” Canty said. “There is that fear factor. There is that uneasiness that’s associated with rolling up into Heinz Field or whatever it is they’re calling that stadium now. You just ain’t stepping in there any kind of way. You got to come correct.”
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