The 2024 NFL season isn't too far away, and fans are already salivating at some of the early week clashes. The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the toughest starts of anybody on their hunt for the elusive three-peat. They head into the new season as the reigning back-to-back champions and they have the opportunity to become the first team in history to successfully lift the Lombard three times on the spin.
However, their start to the new campaign couldn't be any more difficult. They face the Baltimore Ravens in the new season's kick-off game, welcoming them to Arrowhead on September 5th for a repeat of last year's AFC Championship game. And things don't get any easier in week two.
One week removed from the clash against reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, the Chiefs will host the Cincinnati Bengals, perhaps the one team in the entire league that can stop the Chiefs from becoming history makers. in games where Joe Burrow has faced off against opposite number QB Pattrick Mahomes, it has been the former LSU star and his beloved Cincy that have run out victorious 75% of the time. They will be hoping to hand a hammer blow to the reigning champions' dream of three consecutive titles.
But with the new campaign just around the corner, which teams are the most supported by Native Americans?
Let's find out.
Arizona Cardinals
In the South West, the Arizona Cardinals have cultivated a strong following. Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, including the Navajo Nation, the largest reservation in the country. The Cardinals have actively engaged with these communities through outreach programs and partnerships aimed at improving education and health services. Now, all that remains is for the team to perform as well on the field as it does in the community.
The State Farm Stadium outfit has featured in the playoffs just once in the last eight years, and that ended in the wildcard round at the hands of the eventual champion Los Angeles Rams. Next term, they aren't expected to buck the trend, with the latest NFL betting lines and futures providers making them a rank +10000 outsider for the Lombardi.
In each of the last two years, they have finished rock bottom of a challenging NFC West, picking up just four victories in each campaign. They have former Heisman winner Kyler Murray as their man under center however, he hasn't lived up to expectations since being drafted first overall in 2019. He is entering Last Chance Saloon as the face of the franchise, and his native American supporters will be hoping he can do that in 2024.
Seattle Seahawks
In the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Seahawks enjoy widespread support from Native American communities. Washington State is home to numerous tribes, such as the Lummi Nation and the Puyallup Tribe and the Super Bowl XLVIII champions have embraced both them and the rest of the region's rich Native heritage.
Around a decade ago, the Seahawks were at the peak of their powers. The Blue Wave reached back-to-back Super Bowls in 2013 and 2014, winning the first in dominant fashion. With the Legon of Boom, Marshawn Lynch, and Russell Wilson firing on all cylinders, the Hawks dismantled Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos in the most lopsided big game of all time, eventually finishing 43-8. The following year, they attempted to defend their crown, but ultimately Tom Brady and the New England Patriots had too much for them to handle, running out 28-24 victors in Glendale, Arizona.
In recent campaigns, the Seahawks have fallen off somewhat. they missed out on the postseason last term for the second time in three years. They will be among to return to former glories this term.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are another team with a notable Native American fan base, particularly among tribes in the Upper Midwest. The Twin Cities are home to several Ojibwe and Dakota tribes, and the US Bank Stadium side has made concerted efforts to engage with these communities, supporting initiatives such as the American Indian Opportunities Industrialization Center.
On the Gridiron, the Minneapolis-based outfit is in the midst of a rebuild. In 2022, they finished with the second-best record in the NFC, primarily thanks to quarterback Kirk Cousins performing at a never-before-seen level. He racked up over 4,500 throwing yards and led his side into the playoffs, where they were shockingly dumped out by the forever-clutch New York Giants. And unfortunately for the Vikings, they still haven't recovered.
Last season, Cousins was injured early doors, and that caused them to miss out on the playoffs altogether. This term, the 35-year-old veteran has since moved on to the Atlanta Falcons, prompting his now-former team to bring in Michigan State standout J.J. McCarthy with the tenth overall pick. He has plenty of expectations on his young shoulders, both from the team's Native American supporters and from the powers that be in Minnesota.
Who are you pulling for this season?