Longfellow students and staff are cheering on their favorite teams this NFL season. With jerseys, hoodies, cups and other NFL merchandise flooding Longfellow’s hallways, the Longfellow community certainly knows how to show support for their favorite team.

From the Cowboys to the Patriots, Longfellow supports a diverse set of NFL teams, but nothing beats out the local support. A survey conducted by the Lead this October found that roughly 26% of Longfellow students say their favorite team was the Washington Commanders, rising high above all other NFL teams at Longfellow.

Eighth grade football fanatic Paul. R attempts to explain these numbers.  “I think the Commanders are Longfellow’s favorite team because the Commanders are super close to Longfellow, which makes it a lot easier to support them.”

Most of the Longfellow community still rallies around the Washington Commanders, despite the team’s 2022 rebrand following increasing criticism of its former name – the Redskins – and the associated imagery, as well as its past losing streak.  

With the Commanders racing off into their best season in years, currently relatively high up in their group in the NFC East, this year looks to be shaping up for an especially exciting year for football fans across our community.

However, there are still other teams that Longfellow’s student body adores, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. These teams, while not having the sheer amount of support the Commanders have, are still watched and supported by LMS students. A survey conducted by the Longfellow Lead reported that  19% of the Longfellow student body are Steelers fans, while 11% are Baltimore Ravens fans.

 Muhammad. I, a lifelong Steelers fan, explains both his, and Longfellow’s love for the Steelers. “I love how they persevere through rough seasons and come out better than ever,” Muhammad said.

While Steelers fans love the team because of their grit, Ravens fans enjoy their team’s positive energy.

“I love the Ravens spirit! They always rally together in times of hardship,” 8th-grader Henry J. said. 

It’s not only students that contribute to Longfellow’s NFL culture and its support for our local team. Teachers also enjoy participating in Longfellow’s football community.

7th and 8th grade history and civics teacher Mr. Philips, shared his observations on Longfellow’s football community.  “We are a super diverse school, with people from all over,” Mr. Phillips said. “You will notice a lot of Eagles fans, Pittsburgh fans, and Baltimore fans. While the Commanders are the one of the most popular teams here, there are a lot of other teams people root for.” 

Whether it’s forming their dream football team online, connecting over last night’s game, or forming playful rivalries among friends, the NFL season brings Longfellow students together.