Across all sports, it’s not just the result or the team that draws fans in; it’s the players themselves.
The NFL is blessed, year after year, with some of the most engaging and exciting players who get you out of your seat with their incredible performances on the pitch.
Those key players are often the ones teams will draft to help make the Super Bowl challengers. Their ability and performances usually dictate Super Bowl odds and help us understand who the true favorites are.
A household name that excites fans will also attract viewers to games, merchandise, and an enormous fanbase. Reaching out to those interested in the athlete through the club, their social media and branding, and the league promoting them in the media helps reach new fans.
Most Favoured Players in 2025
- Travis Kelce
A lot is going on with Travis Kelce. A top-talent tight end in the NFL for years, his performances and link-up play with Patrick Mahomes have been a joy to watch. Kansas City Chiefs fans have loved his output and energy for the team, but there’s a further reason for his increase in popularity. Dating the one and only Taylor Swift brings fans and attention to Kelce and his team, who have serious aspirations of winning a third Super Bowl.
- Odell Beckham Jr.
I am who I am. His bio on Instagram shows that he has 17.4 million followers, the most of any player in the NFL. His talent was breathtaking when drafted by the New York Giants in 2014. His career hasn’t gone exactly how fans would have predicted, and he most recently struggled in Miami with the Dolphins, where he only managed nine catches for 55 yards. Who knows what the future will hold for OBJ in 2026, but despite his low output on the field, he still draws a big following wherever he goes.
- Patrick Mahomes
Possibly the best player in the league, Patrick Mahomes is a legitimate superstar and has been a revelation since taking over as QB1 at the Kansas City Chiefs after they traded Alex Smith to Washington.
His ability to do something out of the ordinary, consistently high-quality performances, and regular playoff performances draw in fans. Not to mention his two NFL MVP awards, three Super Bowl rings, and several NFL records, Mahomes brings fans to the franchise as a great of the game.
- Josh Allen
In New York, Josh Allen has been grafting to try to get one over on rival Patrick Mahomes throughout his career. The Buffalo Bills drafted him as a top-level talent at quarterback, and the fans have loved his pass-heavy approach.
- Jahmyr Gibbs
We could list the three significant threats on offense here, but Gibbs has been immense at running back all season. He was selected back in 2023 in the first draft round, and his performances this season have pushed him further regarding media attention.
Should he help the Detroit Lions to their first-ever Super Bowl victory, attention and adoration will only grow further.
- Saquon Barkley
Time was called on his New York Giants career, and they lost him to rivals Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley had talent, but injuries and a foul offensive line didn’t help in New York. However, the Eagles have provided him with the perfect setting.
Barkley is a dynamic and exciting running back who has run for over 2000 yards in his debut season with the Eagles. His best in New York was 1,312, and Barkley has become a key piece now in this Eagles offense, which keeps drawing more and more attention.
- T.J Watt
There’s love on the other side of the ball. T.J. Watt has been one of the NFL’s most recognizable and entertaining defensive players. The linebacker, brother of former defensive superstar J.J Watt, has been a big player for the Pittsburgh Steelers and would have caught attention with his surname even if his performances weren’t so high.
- Tyreek Hill
Speed, speed, and a load more speed. As his time seems to end in Miami, Hill has been a superstar in the league since his Chiefs days linking up with Mahomes. His electrifying pace and ability to stretch defenses make him a player for whom everyone should tune in.
- Lamar Jackson
Could Jackson finally get his ring? A dual-threat quarterback who has been on fire this season and is the centerpiece of the Baltimore offense. Years tick by as the Ravens look to add a third Super Bowl; their second was back in 2012, and Jackson’s fans feel he deserves his ring.
- Joe Burrow
His good looks, swagger, and fashion sense add to Joe Burrows’s social media fame. His story of being stuck on the bench at Ohio State before transferring to Louisiana helped him burst onto the scene late and has since been electrifying for the Cincinnati Bengals.
