It's no longer a requirement to attend or watch games or don specific colors to be deemed a fan of a team. Now, fandom can come simply by following a team's account on social media. As fandom has changed, the way teams interact with fans has changed, too.
NFL social media teams across the league have made it a mission to meet fans -- and potential new ones -- where they are ... especially the younger generation.
While a 2022 study by Emory University professor Michael Lewis, found that only 23% of Generation Z -- people born from 1997-2012 -- define themselves as "avid sports fans" and 27% define themselves as "anti-sports", the NFL's success at enticing younger generations is in the numbers.