The NFL is full of traditions—some iconic, others just… kind of there because they’ve always been. Fans love their rituals, but let’s be honest, not every tradition holds up under scrutiny.
Some are outdated, others are just plain annoying, and a few might need to be retired altogether. Here are 15 NFL traditions that are, frankly, completely overrated.
15. Draft Day Hats
Every year, rookies get handed the same generic cap to awkwardly slap on for the cameras. It’s more of a forced photo-op than a memorable moment.
14. Gatorade Showers
Dumping cold liquid on a coach has been done so many times it’s lost all meaning. At this point, it’s more choreographed than spontaneous.
13. Preseason Hype Videos
Every team drops an epic preseason video like they’re about to win the Super Bowl. The season starts, and half of them are 1-4 by October.
12. Thanksgiving Lions and Cowboys Games
Tradition or not, we don’t need to watch the same two teams every single year. There are 30 other franchises—let someone else cook on Thanksgiving.
11. Over-the-Top Tailgate Flexing
Grilling is great, but some fans act like they’re auditioning for a cooking show. It’s football, not a barbecue competition.
10. Thursday Night Games
Nobody asked for midweek football with short-rest rosters and sloppy play. The quality drops and fans pretend like it’s a good idea just because it’s football.
9. End Zone Dances Being “Debated”
Can we stop acting like end zone celebrations are a moral dilemma? Let the players have fun—it’s entertainment, not a court hearing.
8. Retro Uniform Hype
Throwback jerseys are cool… until you realize most of them are ugly for a reason. Not everything old needs to be celebrated.
7. Training Camp Storylines
Every year there’s a “camp standout” who never sees the field in the regular season. Let’s stop pretending like August legends matter.
6. Coin Toss Anticipation
The coin toss has somehow become a dramatic moment. It’s a fifty-fifty flip, not a strategic masterpiece.
5. Draft Grades Hours After the Draft
Grading a draft before anyone has played a snap is like rating a movie based on the trailer. Yet every year, fans act like it’s gospel.
4. “We Dem Boyz” Energy in Week 1
Winning the season opener does not mean a team is back, especially when fans treat it like a Super Bowl preview. Chill out, it’s a long season.
3. Booing the Commissioner
Yes, it was funny once. Now it’s just background noise that no one really cares about—not even the commissioner.
2. “This Is Our Year” Chants
Every team says it, and for most of them, it absolutely is not. Hope is great, but maybe wait until Week 10 to declare destiny.
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1. The Halftime “Adjustment” Myth
Analysts love to say teams “made adjustments” at halftime like it’s some magic formula. More often than not, it’s just playing better—or the other team falling apart.
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