The NFL’s Most Famous Entrance Anthems
4 min read
While fans generate considerable noise in football stadia, the atmosphere often needs some external factor to get the crowd going. Pumping up the volume makes home venues that much harder for the visitors.
The introduction of walk-on anthems for teams worldwide has gained traction, but there’s often some history behind them, too.
Think of the bone-tingling renditions of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Liverpool FC ahead of their famous European nights. Phil Taylor, the 16-time darts world champion, used to walk on stage to “The Power” by Snap to enhance his already considerable stage presence, immediately psyching out opponents.
The NFL is the richest sports league in the world in terms of revenue, and it can create rousing renditions of home songs before kick-off with several teams. Some of the most famous numbers rock the house before the ball game.
Buffalo Bills: “Shout”
The Buffalo Bills had a fantastic season in 2024 and were discussed as favorites in NFL spreads. They just came up short in the playoffs to add to their near-miss history. Nevertheless, they will be aching to get to the Super Bowl for a fifth time in their history to try and finally win it. The team’s entrance song is “Shout”, a take on the Isley Brothers classic.
Although it has been played in the stadium since 1987, the company that owned the original, Polaroid, demanded a royalty fee. However, the Bills’ fanbase fought against the behemoth until they decided to waive the demand entirely.
Although the anthem is still customized, it is often played when the team scores, and the lyrics tend to encourage a massive wall of noise. A recent poll of over 100 NFL players ranked Highmark Stadium as one of the most hostile.
Dallas Cowboys: “The Cowboys Stampede March”
The Dallas Cowboys have a rich history of Super Bowl success, currently tied for third amongst all the franchises with five victories. Their famous run-out number is ‘The Cowboys Stampede March’. The team’s fight song. It originated soon after the official formation of the team in 1960 and is credited to Tom Merriman’s Big Band.
In more recent times, popular artist and big Dallas fan Kelly Clarkson composed a promotional track called Get Up (A Cowboys Anthem). It was released as part of the Pepsi NFL Anthems program to promote the team.
Las Vegas Raiders: Right Here, Right Now and The Autumn Wind
The Las Vegas Raiders were known as the Oakland Raiders until January 2020, when they moved to Allegiant Stadium. Their entrance music is relatively modern, given that “Right Here, Right Now” is apt for their new surroundings. However, Fatboy Slim’s club classic is not the only piece the team relies on to get the crowd going.
The iconic poem, which became the side’s anthem, is over 50 years old and called ‘The Autumn Wind’. The lyrics say much more about the team character: “The Autumn Wind is a Raider, pillaging just for fun. He’ll knock you around and upside down and laugh when he’s conquered and won.”
NFL Films President Steve Sabol adapted the poem for the 1974 season, during which the Silver and Black enjoyed a nine-game winning streak.
Baltimore Ravens: Seven Nation Army and The Baltimore Fight Song
The Baltimore Ravens are one of the newer franchises in the NFL, having been established in 1996. The Ravens Marching Band tends to play the well-known “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes. However, it is not specific to the Ravens; the Buffalo Bills also use it in their repertoire. The song has an infectious guitar riff, which has also been used by world champion boxing heavyweights, including Antony Joshua.
The Ravens’ more official and customised effort is ‘The Baltimore Fight Song’, which was adapted from the original ‘Baltimore Colts Fight Song’. The team’s official website even polled fans to see if they would go for the adaptation. The tweaked version got almost 80 percent of the vote.
The nature of sport lends itself to a cauldron of noise at a home stadium. There is no life without music, either. Teams use it to their advantage to generate the kind of connection that NFL fans need to feel at one with their favorites. The NFL is also a form of show business.
One of the most popular segments of the Super Bowl is the music, and it is no wonder that it stirs the soul for the ball game.
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