comment: >
  
  It's "we" when the team is winning, and "they" when they're losing.
context: because last time I checked the Chargers are still in the league.
  
  Savage, but true. 
  Do you make an exception for College Football? Because most fans are alumni of the schools, so the "we" makes sense as you are talking about the school. >
  
  I don't follow college football at all, but if you personally graduated from the school then I think saying "we" would be valid.  But if you're just a fan because your dad went there or whatever, then I still don't think it makes sense because you as an individual do not actually have any sort of tangible connection with the team. >
  
  I still won't because I pay to go to college. I thought of it as a service. I paid and in exchange they offered me the service of education. So I wouldn't even say "we" then. >
  
  The fans are the biggest part of the team >
  
  That's true in a way.  On most of the teams, most of their players would rather be a different (better) team and are only there for the money and because freedom of movement is limited.  Fans are much more loyal to teams than players, coaches, staff.  I still don't say "we" when referring to teams I like and chuckle silently when people do it. >
  
  I dont get why people make such a big deal about this
  It's just a faster and sinple way of saying the team you cheer for, and don't you think it has something to do with the community? Are fans not a part of that? Players are constantly thanking the fans for their support so I think it's fine if they said "we" when they mention their team. >
  
  I really don't think it's that deep and it's just a thing people say. >
  
  ‘We’ is shorter than “The Chiefs” or “The Dolphins” and generally people understand what is meant so it’s just easier. >
  
  It’s not much shorter than they, though. >
  
  That’s true, but i think the intuitive reason is that ‘we’ kind of denotes ‘my team’ whereas ‘They’ could refer to any team, usually you would use it to refer to the team of the person you’re talking to >
  
  Yeah it’s just not that deep. 
  I don’t say it often but when I’m wasted with the homies having a good time, spending my money, time, emotions. I can say “we “. 
  Home field advantage is a thing for a reason.
  Also, as a fan, I’ve been apart of the organization for a lot longer than any coach or player ever will be. >
  
  Superfans can be annoying, but using "we" is easier than constantly naming the team.  It's just a pronoun, after all. >
  
  Fans are a part of the team. They may not be under contract or get paid, but the teams consider fans a part of them. saying "we" is indicative of the unity sports can bring to communities. we win together, and we lose together. It may sound corny, but that's just how it is. >
  
  I thought you were actually talking about real football (the one with the round ball) >
  
  Reddit is an American website.  Deal with it. >
  
  Actually less than half of redditors are American >
  
  I am reading that as - over 50% of Redditors are normal >
  
  What country do you live in? Assuming USA so lets say the USA goes to war, are you going to say "we are at war" or just the country is? 
  ​
  I have to agree people who act like they suit up every weekend are cringelords. And I do not say the phrase you are referencing, but if you are apart of the team (fans are apart of the team) then you have that right to associate with that team how ever you like, given the role you are. Fans are not players so they can not say they are playing for the team, or a coaching staff member etc, but they can be apart of the fandom of the team which is a very important part of sports, the comradery is arguably one of the biggest reasons people are such livid sports fans. Just like in America many people are deeply patriotic even if they are not in the army fighting over seas. >
  
  
  lets say the USA goes to war, are you going to say "we are at war"
  
  Yes, because you're a member of the country and the country is at war. But that's not a proper comparison because you don't choose the country of your birth, and even if you choose to move, you have to live in a country. You're not born supporting a sports team and you don't have to support one at all. >
  
  So if you don’t support a sports team then this argument doesn’t apply to you at all. Also you don’t have to support your home country there’s been plenty of revolts in history or mass immigration out of countries like Cuba. Also you can move and choose to live in any country you want, just like you can choose any team you want to be a fan of. (Unless you’re born in a fanatic fan house that force you be a fan of a certain team) >
  
  Exactly. You're listing all the reasons why it's not the same.
  A country goes to war. You're part of a country, so you would say 'we are at war'.
  A team plays a sport. Unless you're on that team, you shouldn't (in my opinion and OP's) say 'we're playing a sport'.
  I'd accept it from people who work for the team in a non-playing capacity, like the backroom staff etc. They're still part of the team. >
  
  Except in a lot of cases, that's not how it works. Never mind the fact that one can argue fans are a very important part of a team and form a community, outside of the US sports teams are most often founded as clubs, not franchises. The people that you don't think are part of the team, literally ARE the club. The players and everyone working for the club are just employees. The people/fans can also be official club members and even minor shareholders. >
  
  Cheers, I'm from the UK and everyone I know who talks like this is talking about football (soccer) teams. And last time I checked, they're not shareholders in Manchester United.
  If you support a local grassroots team, know the players personally, help out with the treasury, organise buses to away matches etc then yeah, in that sort of case I think you've got a point. The people I know are following huge teams and just buying tickets or watching on TV. >
  
  
  Manchester United.
  
  That explains why you only know plastic fans.
  Sorry, couldn't resist. >
  
  That's fine, I don't even follow a football team. I was just naming a very famous one because I think most of the people here are American and won't have heard of many. But I also know Leeds, Burnley and Liverpool fans who talk the same way.
  However on that note - the only football I ever watch is the World Cup and the Euros, and even when it's England playing I still won't say 'we'. >
  
  it's like wearing scrubs while watching Grey's Anatomy and saying "We saved him!" while high-fiving your friends.