Chris Simms Shocks Steelers Fans By Naming The 'Dawg Pound' As A Top 4 Rowdy Fan Base

For a moment, think back to a memorable Pittsburgh Steelers’ home game in the last two decades. Those critical, crunch-time, playoff-dependent, gotta-have-it games along the North Shore on those cold Sunday afternoons. If you’re like me, chances are you think back to a game where there is a light snow blowing around the stadium lights. It is a one-score game heading deep into the fourth quarter. The visiting offense is driving down the field and the Steelers’ defense needs a stop. It is third down and there is a timeout on the field. Then, the scoreboard goes dark and all goes quiet.

As the anticipation grows, the voice of Tommy Shaw begins to drift through the public announcement speakers, “Oh mama, I’m in fear for my life from the long arm of the law…”; Renegade. As defensive highlights glance across the scoreboard, the stadium is filled with the distinct yellow glaring from tens of thousands of Terrible Towels waving in unison throughout the confines.

Then, as the scene culminates to the tune of, “The jig is up, the news is out, they’ve finally found me,” the crowd erupts into the heralded chant, “here we go Steelers, here we go!” As the broadcast returns to the game, the home crowd is in a frenzy and the Steelers’ defense gets a jolt of new life and closes out the game to secure the win.

While the Renegade aura may be more designed for the fans than the players, the scene that unfolds can’t be matched. It is something fans look forward to at every home game. Visiting teams blare the classic rock hit in the week’s practices leading up to the game. Although the bit only lasts for less than a minute, it is enough to turn a cold, frigid home crowd into a rowdy scene of emotion, fury, and prideful support that can’t be found anywhere else.

Sitting with former Steelers 2x Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt voiced his love-hate emotions towards the Pittsburgh ritual on Roethlisberger's podcast. Even though there could be a split amongst fans and players, there is no denying it is a staple in Pittsburgh. From a national stage, there was another well-known analyst who shared his thoughts on who he thinks surpasses the Steelers’ home crowd as being the “rowdiest” in the NFL.

Chris Simms spent time playing quarterback for a few different teams in the NFL after getting drafted in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. As the son of current CBS Sports analyst, Phil Simms, he entered the media realm to offer his hot takes by way of NBC Sports. On Simms' podcast, Pro Football Talk Live with Mike Florio, the two hashed out their rowdiest fan bases in professional football, starting with the other Pennsylvania team; the Philadelphia Eagles.

“When they’re throwing full beer cans at your head and you’re a (San Francisco) 49ers fan as you’re walking into the stadium, I would say yeah, that’s close to it,” Simms said. “I would say they’re number one.” Simms continued, “The Eagles and (Las Vegas) Raiders were the ones that jumped out to where when you went in the parking lot, it just felt different.”

Eagles fans have built a reputation of taking the notion of, “you’re either with us or against us,” to an entirely new level. They remain as being the only fan base to famously ‘boo’ Santa Clause and are notorious for raining profanities down on visiting teams and fans alike. At their previous stadium, Veterans Stadium, they had a jail within the facility to deal with unruly fans. The current stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, used to have something similar when it opened in 2003, but was shut down shortly thereafter.

The Raiders’ “Black Hole” also carried that similar reputation. But since the team left for the desert in Las Vegas, the crowd seems to have simmered down significantly. So, with the Eagles owning that top spot on the list and the Raiders not holding much water in the conversation, who does Simms think is next? He continued.

“I would go Browns, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, I think Pittsburgh Steelers I’d throw in there,” he described. “Those are four that really pop to me.”

It was here where Simms lost me. There are a couple of teams on that list ahead of the Steelers that could surprise most fans. I find it difficult to agree with the Browns and Patriots having more animated crowds than the Steelers. 

How could these other AFC crowds beat out Steelers fans?

The Browns’ fans proudly boast their “Dawg Pound” after their inception in 1985. Since then, that same ‘prideful’ bunch hasn’t had much to watch through their hand-cut holes in a brown paper bag. That includes zero Super Bowl parades, one Wild Card Playoff victory on the road, and countless losing seasons peppered throughout. To consider the fan base, who watched Roethlisberger accrue the second-most wins at their own stadium in team history, as being one of the rowdiest in the nation may be something born out of frustration rather than pride.

The Patriots’ fan base is the other outlier for me. Being a former coaching assistant for the team in 2012, Simms may just be showing his fandom cards in this sentiment. However, opposite of what we see with Cleveland, the fans have had a lot to cheer for throughout their six Super Bowl championships since 2002. Similar to Eagles’ fans, Boston fans have a reputation of their own built on more verbal abuse than physical. This is what Simms still remembers from his time with the team.

“The Patriots fans were awesome and brutal,” Simms said. “I never saw them throw stuff, but you talk about the wittiest, smartest, just throwing zingers at you all game, New England might’ve taken the cake in that department.”

The Bills’ “Bills Mafia” has grown to be one of the most well-known fan bases in the country. Similar to Steelers fans, they bring an unapologetic, blue-collar approach to every home game. In addition, their philanthropic efforts have been incredible, proving they are as much fans of the Buffalo community as they are the football team. However, the Steelers’ fan base is one of the oldest, largest, and most popular ones in the country and makes the lives of visiting teams difficult every week.

This may be a biased proclamation, but it is difficult to argue. No other fan base travels like Steelers fans do. The fan base single-handily created the act of waving a towel above their heads to cheer on the home team. Since then, other teams across other sports have made their own attempts in their re-creation of it, but nothing beats the original. The Steelers clearly have the best, most animated fan base in the league, let alone in the entire country.

Who do you think has the rowdiest fan base? What stories do you have from road games?