Research reveals which NFL fanbases have fallen victim the most to fake merch scams – and which states are fueling the conversation.
The Philadelphia Eagles top the charts with 41,660 online conversations about fake merchandise – but they also suffer the highest rate of negative sentiment, with 38% of these conversations expressing frustration or disappointment.
Other teams with significant chatter include the Kansas City Chiefs (28,442 conversations, 15% negative), Dallas Cowboys (24,828 conversations, 18% negative), and Pittsburgh Steelers (22,844 conversations, 16% negative).
| Rank | Teams | Fake Merch Conversations online in last 12 months | % of Negative conversations online in last 12 months | Average cost of a team jersey |
| 1 | Philadelphia Eagles | 41,660 | 38% | $147.99 |
| 2 | Kansas City Chiefs | 28,442 | 15% | $131.13 |
| 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 24,828 | 18% | $141.79 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 22,844 | 16% | $152.25 |
| 5 | New York Giants | 20,540 | 14% | $158.85 |
| 6 | New York Jets | 19,516 | 13% | $138.65 |
| 7 | San Francisco 49ers | 19,419 | 12% | $143.81 |
| 8 | Cleveland Browns | 19,060 | 16% | $151.23 |
| 9 | Detroit Lions | 18,989 | 14% | $156.91 |
| 10 | Chicago Bears | 18,920 | 12% | $124.95 |
| 11 | Green Bay Packers | 18,481 | 14% | $134.03 |
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings | 18,168 | 12% | $142.79 |
| 13 | New England Patriots | 17,965 | 13% | $138.51 |
| 14 | Denver Broncos | 16,420 | 12% | $139.17 |
| 15 | Houston Texans | 16,367 | 15% | $127.39 |
| 16 | Washington Commanders | 15,923 | 14% | $154.05 |
| 17 | Buffalo Bills | 15,682 | 15% | $135.71 |
| 18 | Los Angeles Rams | 15,088 | 15% | $131.25 |
| 19 | Cincinnati Bengals | 14,868 | 17% | $134.63 |
| 20 | New Orleans Saints | 14,730 | 15% | $148.47 |
| 21 | Las Vegas Raiders | 14,529 | 14% | $134.71 |
| 22 | Seattle Seahawks | 14,485 | 12% | $136.17 |
| 23 | Tennessee Titans | 14,325 | 12% | $154.49 |
| 24 | Baltimore Ravens | 14,241 | 16% | $145.77 |
| 25 | Miami Dolphins | 14,188 | 14% | $137.89 |
| 26 | Atlanta Falcons | 14,006 | 11% | $135.31 |
| 27 | Carolina Panthers | 13,975 | 13% | $129.71 |
| 28 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 12,909 | 13% | $167.99 |
| 29 | Indianapolis Colts | 12,442 | 12% | $143.79 |
| 30 | Arizona Cardinals | 12,111 | 11% | $125.57 |
| 31 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 11,849 | 12% | $141.59 |
| 32 | Los Angeles Chargers | 11,847 | 13% | $129.53 |
Fans of these teams are actively discussing the growing problem of fake NFL merch online, from jerseys and hats to collectibles, and many express concerns over quality, authenticity, and price gouging.
Looking beyond teams, InGame.com analyzed which U.S. states appear most frequently in the top five states generating fake merch conversations for each NFL team. The results show some clear hotspots:
| State | State ranked top 5 within conversations online by team |
| California | 26 |
| Texas | 25 |
| Florida | 24 |
| New York | 19 |
| Tennessee | 10 |
| Arizona | 5 |
| Ohio | 5 |
| Georgia | 4 |
| Illinois | 4 |
| Missouri | 4 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 |
| Massachusetts | 3 |
| Virginia | 3 |
| Wisconsin | 3 |
| Colorado | 2 |
| District of Columbia | 2 |
| Maryland | 2 |
| Michigan | 2 |
| Nevada | 2 |
| New Jersey | 2 |
| Washington | 2 |
| Connecticut | 1 |
| Indiana | 1 |
| Louisiana | 1 |
| Minnesota | 1 |
| North Carolina | 1 |
| South Carolina | 1 |
California, Texas, and Florida dominate the conversation, each appearing in the top five states for fake merch discussions more than 24 times across different teams.
California ranks highest among fans of the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Chargers. It also appears as the second most mentioned state for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Seattle Seahawks.
These states boast large, passionate NFL fanbases paired with active online marketplaces, creating fertile ground for counterfeit merchandise to thrive.
The data underscores the growing challenge for fans trying to purchase authentic team gear online. With counterfeiters exploiting the demand, fans risk losing money and faith in official merch channels. Retailers and the NFL will need to step up enforcement and education efforts, especially in the high-traffic states spotlighted here.
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