Browns fandom ranks about right in FanSided 250

The Cleveland Browns fandom has taken some hits over the year but the FanSided 250 mostly got it right with their ranking of fanbases in 2020.

It might not seem like a great number, but considering the Browns haven’t been a successful franchise in the world of sports since the mid-’90s, so the notion that the Browns made the FanSided 250 at all is an achievement in itself. Keep in mind most of this list was generated off of their performance to close out the 2019 season, and yeah, you can’t be mad at where the Browns fans fell this year.

According to FanSided, the Dawg Pound came in at No. 211. Their fan vote netted them 44.2, while their search score was 33.8. The Browns have an impressive 3.9 million social media followers, made more impressive by the fact the Browns have sucked for nearly three decades.

Yet, expect them to be much higher come 2021. The Dawg Pound and critics, while still silly at times with their debate over Baker Mayfield, has had a 2020 season to remember. When teams win, and stars are created, fans tune in. While the notion of bandwagon fans is often taboo in the world of sports, the fact is that people glom on to winners. Expect that to happen in 2021.

Helping with that is the stellar performances of Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Wyatt Teller, and Kevin Stefanski, turning them into people the fandom can embrace (joining Myles Garrett). Mayfield is having a career year, with 21 touchdowns through 12 games to only seven interceptions, while Stefanski has turned around a franchise culture in just three-quarters of a season. Add on Chubb continued dominance and Teller’s MVP-like run, along with Garrett’s big sack stats and you can’t deny that this team is starting to create stars. You’re going to see more and more people call themselves a Browns fan in 2021.

Especially if they can cause havoc in the 2020-2021 playoffs. This is a team that’s designed to be a force and the Browns and their fanbase should expect to see a great ending to a great year.