5 NFL owners disliked by their teams' fans ft. Dan Snyder
The ownership of an NFL team largely influences the team's success. The ownership directly impacts the acquisition of leaders in the front office and among the coaching staff. Those selected coaches and general managers normally have the biggest influence on the recruitment of strong talent.
This illustrates how an owner's performance behind the scenes trickles down to the team's general success. Historically successful franchises can usually attribute a lot of their success to proper management. However, this means that fans normally look to their team's owner when their team isn't performing well.
All NFL owners have different approval ratings from their teams' fan bases. Owners that are loved by their fans are known for their relentless commitment to the team. They find the best managers, coaches, and players to consistently develop ways to deliver a winning football team.
When teams show disfunctional leadership for long periods of time and struggle to win, their fans usually begin to disapprove of their owner.
Here are five NFL owners who are generally disliked by their teams' fans.
#5 Mike Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
Prior to the Cincinnati Bengals winning the AFC Championship last season, Mike Brown (who acquired the team in 1991) would have been higher on this list. He will likely have gained some slack from the Bengals fan base, but probably not much.
Prior to the 2022/23 NFL season, the Bengals hadn't won a single playoff game since Brown took over the team.
Bengals president Mike Brown said his only regret was not having the Lombardi Trophy.
Brown: “Don’t let anybody tell you the Bengals aren’t for real.” https://t.co/BJ33EEb6G9
The team's fans have long been frustrated with Brown for a variety of reasons, including what they felt was a lack of desire to win.
Bengals greats like Carson Palmer and Corey Dillon left the organization, citing this as their reason. Brown also kept Marvin Lewis as the head coach for 16 years, despite never winning a playoff game.
#4 Woody Johnson, New York Jets
New York Jets fans don't necessarily dislike owner Woody Johnson for lack of effort, but rather for consistent failures. Despite spending money on players and coaches and showing a desire to be competitive, Johnson has struck out multiple times.
The Jets were victorious in Super Bowl III, but that was 50 years ago with different ownership, and they haven't appeared in another title clash since. New York fans demand winning in all sports, but Johnson hasn't provided them with substantial success on the football field.