Top 10 most followed NFL players on Instagram

NFL is the most popular sporting league in the United States. Moreover, it is one of the most watched sporting leagues in the whole world. The Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles was viewed by more than 113 million viewers per multiple reports, making it the most-watched sporting event in the country so far.

Even last year, the Super Bowl game between the LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals ended up being the most-watched sporting event, with reportedly more than 100 million viewers. Besides, the game has a huge following, which results in the teams and players getting massive amounts of money from product advertisements and sponsorships. As a result of its popularity, the NFL made a record $485 million in advertising during the Super Bowl event.

Moreover, many players in the league are making massive banks thanks to their popularity on the football field and on social media. In this article, let’s take a look at the top 10 most followed NFL players on Instagram in 2023. From the legendary quarterback Tom Brady to the future of the league, Patrick Mahomes, the list contains some of the most popular players ever to play the sport, and the No.1 spot might be a surprising one!

10. JuJu Smith-Schuster (3.2 million followers)

JuJu Smith-Schuster is as famous for his social media presence as his on-field heroics. The former Pro Bowl receiver has accumulated over 3.2 million followers on Instagram, where he’s active, and has shared more than 1,600 posts. The 26-year-old wide receiver played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022-23 season, where he caught 78 passes for 933 yards and three touchdowns. Besides, he played a vital role in the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl.

Furthermore, he has played with the Steelers for more than five years, during which he has caught 401 passes for 4788 yards and 29 touchdowns. The talented wide receiver is currently under contract with the New England Patriots, where he will continue to improve his game.

9. Lamar Jackson (3.4 million followers)

Coming at No.10 on the most followed NFL players on the Instagram list is the Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. The 27-year-old QB took the NFL by storm as soon as he entered the league. In fact, during his second season in the league, Jackson became one of the only two players in the league to win the league MVP award unanimously.

The 2-time Pro Bowler is currently under contract with the Baltimore-based football team and certainly has a great future ahead of him, either with the Ravens or with another that is willing to pay him. Nevertheless, the former league MVP has over 3.4 million followers on Instagram, and his following will certainly keep growing steadily.

8. Joe Burrow (4.1 million followers)

The third-year quarterback Joe Burrow has changed the culture in Cincinnati and took the Bengals to back-to-back AFC Championship games. Moreover, his calm presence and swagger attitude have earned him a huge fan following. The 26-year-old quarterback has gained over 4.1 million followers on Instagram thanks to his on-field accomplishments.

The Bengals drafted Burrow as the 1st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. After a knee injury during his rookie put a temporary halt to his rise to stardom, the 6’4″ QB returned in style and won the 2021 AP Comeback Player of the Year award. With age on his side, the Bengals QB will continue to grow and so will his fan following.

7. J. J. Watt (4.4 million followers)

The man who is known as more than just a good football player in Houston! During his illustrious 12-year-long career, J.J. Watt held a reputation around the league for being a genuinely nice guy who had done a lot of charitable activities.

But during his time on the field, he is one of the most feared linemen in the league’s history. The 5-time Pro Bowler sent shivers down the opponent quarterbacks whenever he lined up against them. Watt has registered 114.5 sacks and has won the Defensive Player of the Award three times during his career.

Unfortunately for him, the 5-time All-Pro spent most of his career with the Houston Texans and didn’t have plenty of shot at winning the Championship game. However, Watt has gained the love of many NFL fans with his accomplishments. The 6’5″ defensive end has gained over 4.4 million followers on Instagram.

6. Cam Newton (4.7 million followers)

Cam Newton is one of the swaggiest quarterbacks the league has ever seen. The 6’5″, 245-pound behemoth of a man terrorized the league during his 11-year-long career in the league, especially during his time with the Carolina Panthers.

Newton led the Panthers to three NFC South division titles and one Super Bowl appearance. The three-time Pro Bowler was the heart and soul of the Carolina-based football team for a decade before he parted ways with the franchise. On the back of his football heroics, Newton has gained over 4.7 million followers on Instagram.

5. Rob Gronkowski (5 million followers)

Rob Gronkowski, also known as the party boy of the NFL, has certainly gained some following during his time in the league. The 4-time All-Pro tight end has over 5 million followers on Instagram. Gronkowski, who played in the league for more than a decade, is arguably one of the greatest tight ends of all time.

The talented tight end has won 4 Super Bowls during his time with the Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has been to 8 Pro Bowls and arguably played a great role in helping Tom Brady achieve greatness. The 33-year-old tight end has retired since the 2021 season and is currently an NFL analyst.

4. Russell Wilson (5.6 million followers)

Russell Wilson is one of the league’s most athletic quarterbacks ever. The athletic QB was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Since he was drafted, he led the Seahawks to one Super Bowl Championship and nine consecutive winning seasons.

As his legend grew, so did his fanbase. The Broncos QB has over 5.6 million followers on Instagram and will continue to gain more followers in the future as he continues to keep playing the game at the highest level. The 9-time Pro Bowler is currently under contract with the Denver Broncos.

3. Patrick Mahomes (6.7 million followers)

The Kansas City Chiefs franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes has shown unprecedented talent in his short career. As soon as he took over the starting QB job of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, he won the prestigious MVP award. Since he took over as a starter, the QB has been to five consecutive Pro Bowls and has won 3 Super Bowl MVPs and three Super Bowl Championships.

Mahomes has also won two league MVPs during that stretch. His resume keeps improving every year; with that, his fan following has also seen a historic rise. The 27-year-old QB has over 6.7 million followers on Instagram, which will surely keep growing.

2. Tom Brady (14.9 million followers)

Yup, the greatest QB of all time is not the No.1 in the list of most followed NFL players on Instagram. The seven-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady has over 14.9 million followers on Instagram, second most of any NFL player ever. Brady dominated the league for over two decades and left a legacy many players can only dream of.

The recently retired QB has been to record 15 Pro Bowls and was named to the first-team 4-time All-Pro. Besides, Brady has won the most Super Bowls among NFL players and the Super Bowl MVP five times. Furthermore, Tom Brady leads the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns all time. He has also won the league MVP three times.

1. Odell Beckham Jr. (17.6 million followers)

The No.1 player in the list of most followed NFL players is the former NY Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Thanks to his on-field excellence, the 30-year-old wide receiver has over 17.6 million followers on Instagram.

The talented wide receiver has played 9 seasons in the NFL so far. OBJ has been to 3 Pro Bowls and has won the Super Bowl one time. The 5’11” wideout is currently not under contract with any franchise, but any team would love to see Beckham Jr. dressed up in their team’s colors.

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