Eight Great Lakes States with NFL Teams

The eight U.S. states bordering the Great Lakes that host NFL franchises:

1. New York — Buffalo Bills (Orchard Park, Lake Erie)
2. Ohio — Cleveland Browns (Lake Erie), Cincinnati Bengals (Ohio River → Mississippi, but Ohio borders Lake Erie)
3. Michigan — Detroit Lions (Ford Field, near Lake St. Clair/Lake Erie)
4. Illinois — Chicago Bears (Soldier Field, Lake Michigan)
5. Wisconsin — Green Bay Packers (Lambeau Field, Lake Michigan/Green Bay)
6. Minnesota — Minnesota Vikings (US Bank Stadium, Lake Superior via St. Louis River estuary)
7. Pennsylvania — Pittsburgh Steelers (Ohio River headwaters; PA borders Lake Erie at Erie)
8. Indiana — Indianapolis Colts (Indiana borders Lake Michigan at NW corner)

Notes: Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are on the Ohio River (Mississippi basin), but their states (OH, PA) have Great Lakes shoreline. Minnesota's Vikings stadium is inland but MN has Lake Superior coast. Two Great Lakes states lack NFL teams: Ontario (Canada, has CFL) and New York (has Bills—counted). Actually all 8 U.S. Great Lakes states have NFL teams.