Despite issues, football is still America's favorite sport

Football player making a catch
In partnership with the Washington Post, the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion surveyed 1,000 American adults on their attitudes about sports. This, the second release in a series, focuses on general attitudes about sports and sports viewership, with a particular emphasis on professional football and the National Football League (NFL).

KEY FINDINGS

  • 77 percent of those who consider themselves professional football fans said that head injuries causing long-term health issues for players are a major problem. 
  • Sports fans see other issues with football, including domestic violence (61 percent) and violence in general (60 percent) committed by players as major problems. 
  • Despite the issues, 60 percent of Americans say they are fans of professional football, with 31 percent identifying themselves as “big fans.”