Oilers Fans Ranked Most Profane in Sports Study
A study of 205 professional teams found Edmonton Oilers fans used the most swear words online, while St. Louis Cardinals fans were the most polite.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Baseball
Action Network ranked Edmonton Oilers fans as the most profane sports fan base in a study of 205 professional teams. The analysis covered more than 9.7 million Reddit comments made throughout 2026, with 17.89 per cent of Oilers subreddit comments containing swear words.
Why it matters
The study offers a data-based look at how fan communities communicate online across major leagues in the NFL, NBA, MLS, MLB and several European soccer competitions. It provides a measurable comparison of online fan conduct between teams and leagues.
The analysis measured the percentage of comments containing at least one swear word in each team's Reddit community, with the Oilers at 17.89% and the Dallas Stars at 15.44% ranking highest. The study does not explain the reasons behind these differences or whether they reflect broader fan behavior beyond Reddit.
The players
Action Network
Action Network is a sports betting and media company that publishes sports news, analysis and betting information online.
The details
Action Network examined more than 200 fan bases across the NFL, NBA, MLS, Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and MLB. Athletic Bilbao ranked second overall at 17.17%, followed by Atlético Madrid at 15.17%, while the Boston Bruins ranked fourth at 15.33%.
Timeline
Comments analyzed in the study were posted throughout 2026.
Study results on fan profanity were published on November 10, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The findings show that fan culture varies widely across leagues and continents, with European soccer clubs such as Athletic Bilbao and Atlético Madrid ranking alongside North American teams near the top of the profanity list. Online fan communities have become a measurable source of data on how supporters talk about their teams.
The results do not change how games are played or scheduled, but they offer a comparison for fans who participate in team Reddit communities. Readers who follow these forums can use the rankings to gauge the tone of discussion around their own teams.
The takeaway
Online fan communities vary sharply in tone, and measurable differences in how teams' supporters write online can be tracked across leagues. Readers interested in fan culture can compare team communities to see how conversations differ from one club to another.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see the Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dailyhive.
