They are the same thing: The NFL.
Just a few years after we learned conclusively that many former players suffered brain injuries due to the sport, the NFL has a stronger hold than ever on American sports fans and it's not even close.
When asked in a recent survey, 37% of Americans said football was their favorite sport, more than double baseball, which was second.
TV ratings show an even more dramatic edge. When it comes to getting viewers, the NFL dominates other sports in America like the Bears dominated the then-Redskins in the 1940 NFL championship game: Chicago 73, Washington 0 (hey! NFL trivia!).
To wit:
Among the 25 most-watched TV shows so far this year, 15 are NFL games (Key point: only the final week of the 2020 season and 13 playoff games were played in 2021). In fact, 14 of the 15 most-watched shows were NFL games (the exception: President Biden's inauguration, which came in sixth, just ahead of an AFC wild-card playoff game).
The Super Bowl dominates TV viewership in 2021, just like every year. But every NFL playoff game made the top 25 most-watched shows. Heck, two regular-season games made the list (and more would have, except as mentioned, there was only the one week of the regular season in 2021).
Further proof of how football dominates TV ratings: In addition to the 15 NFL games, the top-25 list of shows for 2021 also includes three college football games.
If you asked me in 2015 or 2016, I would have said that interest in football in 2021 would be on the decline. The increased spotlight on brain trauma suffered by former NFL, college and high school players was obvious. Parents would pull their sons from football in favor of other sports. The energy of most NFL broadcasts (Brash! Dangerous! Spectacular!) would wear thin.
Basketball was coming fast. It was a social media sport – NBA stars are active on Twitter and Instagram, league rumors churn year-round, it's a great TV sport. Soccer was on the way, with European leagues attracting much of the NFL's core audience of young males. Mixed martial arts was growing rapidly, with pay-per-view events airing constantly. Maybe even baseball would come back.
A few years later, the NFL is bigger, badder and more powerful than ever. The next group of TV contracts will set new records – and based on ratings, they should.
It all comes back this week as the Cowboys (America's Team) and the Buccaneers (Super Bowl champions) kick off the season Thursday. The 49ers and Raiders both play Sunday. Tens of millions (hundreds of millions?) of viewers will be glued to their screens, watching the games, tracking their fantasy leagues, enjoying what the league offers..
There's the possibility that, like me, you're not a huge NFL fan. But like many things over the past several years, get used to it.
The NFL is a dominant feature of American life and is gaining steam.
The NFL is king of American sports and culture.
Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@outlook.com.
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