“I Could Call Better Plays”: 44% Of Detroit Lions Fans Think They Could Out-Coach Their NFL Team

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A new survey has revealed the growing confidence — or delusion — of fantasy football fans across the country. According to the data, nearly a third of fantasy players say they feel they could do a better job than an actual NFL coach. Among Detroit Lions fans, that number jumps to an eye-watering 44%, who say they feel this way “every Sunday, without fail.”

A survey by Props.com of fantasy football fans found that supporters are convinced they know better than professional head coaches on the field.

Sets Of  Fans Who Think They Could Coach Better

Fantasy football has turned millions of NFL fans into self-proclaimed strategists, and for some, the confidence goes far beyond lineup tweaks. In fact, 47% of Arizona Cardinals fans say they believe they could do a better job than their team’s head coach — every single Sunday. It’s the highest percentage of any fanbase surveyed, suggesting a serious disconnect between fans and the sidelines in Arizona.

Close behind are Detroit Lions and New York Jets fans, with 44% from each team saying they’d out-coach the professionals.

Fans of the Atlanta Falcons (38%), Baltimore Ravens (37%), and Pittsburgh Steelers (33%) also show a high level of belief in their fantasy-based football knowledge.

Which Age Groups Believe They’re Smarter Than The Coaches?

When it comes to thinking you know better than the professionals, age plays a significant role. Younger fans are by far the most confident, with 34% of 18–24-year-olds saying they think they could coach an NFL team better than the actual coach every Sunday. Right behind them, 33% of those aged 25–34 feel the same.

This belief drops notably in older age groups. Only 29% of those aged 45–54 and 28% of both 35–44 and 55–64-year-olds feel they could out-coach the pros. Among fans aged 65 and over, that number plummets to just 8%.

The generational gap may be due to how younger fans engage with the sport. Raised in the era of stats, real-time updates, and fantasy league culture, Gen Z and younger Millennials have been trained to think tactically. Their confidence might not come from coaching experience — but from years of tracking player performance, debating online, and playing virtual GMs every Sunday.

More information on our fantasy football survey can be found on site. If you wish to use this information, please link back to: https://props.com/fantasy-football-report/

Methodology

This data comes from a nationwide survey of 1,250 U.S.-based fantasy football players, conducted in July 2025. The research examined how fantasy participation affects team loyalty, behavior, and viewing habits.

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