The kids are back in school, the leaves are changing colors (well, at least up North) and this can only mean one thing: Football season is back.
For those who celebrate, it's the time of year when it seems we can't get enough of NFL, college and high school games. And many of us grew up somewhere else, so it's nice to watch our home team in a bar or restaurant if they're not on TV locally.
Which begs the next question: Where can you watch games of your favorite team surrounded by fans like you who grew up rooting for them too?
So we've compiled a guide to help you decide where to find other loyal-for-life fans to watch games in Southwest Florida.
This, however, is not a list of every single football team. And if your team isn't here ― or you know of other places for teams listed below ― please email the information to dosborn@gannett.com so we can add it.
NFL TEAMS
Buffalo Bills ― Buffalo Chips, 26620 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs; RonDao's Pizzeria & Sports Bar, 15320 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; Mango Rita's Rhythm House, 16440 S Tamiami Trail, Unit 11, Fort Myers; Wahoo's River Bar and Grill, 475 North Road, Naples. RSVP required. For more, email BuffaloBillsBackersofNaples@gmail.com or visit the group on Facebook
Baltimore Ravens ― Fan club will meet this year at Pelican Larry's, 7785 Davis Blvd., Naples
Chicago Bears ― BackStreets Sports Bar, 915 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral; The Edison, 3583 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. More on Facebook
Cleveland Browns ― Hurricanes Grill & Wings, 756 SW Pine Island Road, Cape Coral; Buster's Sports Tavern ― 16681 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers
Detroit Lions ― BackStreets Sports Bar, 915 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral; GatorBites Tail & Ale, 20351 Summerlin Road, Fort Myers
Green Bay Packers ― Parrot Key, 2500 Main St., Fort Myers Beach; The Oasis, 1046 Pine Ridge Road, Naples
Kansas City Chiefs ― Torched Bar & Grill, 2408 Surfside Blvd., Cape Coral; Overtime Pizzeria & Sports Pub, 1708 Cape Coral Parkway, Unit 1, Cape Coral
Minnesota Vikings ― Pott's Sports Cafe, 6900 Daniels Parkway, Unit 26, Fort Myers; Burnt Store Tavern, 3015 SW Pine Island Road, No. 101, Cape Coral
New England Patriots ― Ralph's Place, 1305 Cape Coral Parkway E, Cape Coral; Foxboro Sports Tavern, 4420 Thomasson Drive, Naples; Lansdowne Street Pub, 24851 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs; Boston Beer Garden, 2396 Immokalee Road, Naples; Shea's Landsdowne Street, 6340 Naples Blvd., Naples
New York Giants: Milhous Pub, 15200 S Tamiami Trail, Unit 114, Fort Myers
Philadelphia Eagles ― Parrot Key, 2500 Main St., Fort Myers; Stevie Tomato's, 814 Pine Island Road, Cape Coral; The Oasis, 1046 Pine Ridge Road, Naples
Pittsburgh Steelers ― Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill, 4451 Veronica S. Shoemaker Blvd., Fort Myers; Buckett's Wings & More, 6301 South Pointe Blvd., Fort Myers; Lelulos Pizzeria Florida, 3123 Chiquita Blvd. S., Cape Coral; Jerseys Sports Cafe, 13971 N. Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers
COLLEGE TEAMS
Florida Gators ― The Edison, 3583 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers
Florida State Seminoles ― Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill, 4451 Veronica S. Shoemaker Blvd., Fort Myers; The Edison, 3583 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers
Iowa Hawkeyes ― Big 10 Tavern, 4703 SW 16th Place, Cape Coral; RonDao's Pizzeria & Sports Bar, 15320 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers
Miami Hurricanes ― The Edison, 3583 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers
Michigan Wolverines ― GatorBites Tail & Ale, 20351 Summerlin Road, Fort Myers.
Michigan State Spartans ― GatorBites Tail & Ale, 20351 Summerlin Road, Fort Myers.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish ― RonDao's Pizzeria & Sports Bar, 15320 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; Irish Times Bar & Grill, 8939 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. More on Facebook and Instagram.
Ohio State Buckeyes ― Shoeless Joe's Sports Cafe, 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers; Mango Rita's Rhythm House, 16440 S Tamiami Trail, Unit 11, Fort Myers; Harold's Place Chickee Bar & Grill, 2555 Tamiami Trail N., Naples; Stevie Tomato's, 15215 Collier Blvd., No. 303, Naples.
Penn State Nittany Lions ― Big 10 Tavern, 4703 SW 16th Place, Cape Coral
Wisconsin Badgers ― Big 10 Tavern, 4703 SW 16th Place, Cape Coral
MORE SPORTS BARS TO CHECK OUT
Backyard Social ― 16371 Corporate Commerce Way, Fort Myers, 239-703-7077
Bayside Burger & Beer ― 211 Hanco*ck Bridge Parkway, Unit 9, Cape Coral, 239-471-7611
Buffalo Wild Wings ― 9390 Dynasty Drive, Suite 101, Fort Myers; 307 SW Pine Island Road, Cape Coral
Duffy's Sports Grill ― 627 Cape Coral Parkway W., Cape Coral, 239-205-6771; 13721 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, 239-590-8631; 21253 Stoneybrook Golf Blvd., Estero, 239-301-0944
El Estadio Latin Sports Bar & Grill ― 11491 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, 239-689-5952
Fat Katz Sports Bistro ― 10080 Daniels Interstate Court, Fort Myers, 239-768-3541
First Round Draft Sports Bar & Grill ― 1217 Del Prado Blvd. S, Cape Coral, 239-673-9010
Hooters ―4411 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, 239-766-7950; 3120 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral, 239-424-9855; 3625 Gateway Lane, Naples, 239-677-4180;hooters.com
Miceli's Waterfront ― 3930 Pine Island Road NW, Matlacha, 239-282-8233
Miller's Ale House ― 4400 Kernel Circle, Fort Myers, 239-931-4160, 10065 Gulf Center Drive, Fort Myers, 239-461-9334
Nick & Stella's ― 15271-14 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-466-9493
Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill ― 4631 SE 10th Place, Cape Coral, 239-360-8154 and 20041 S. Tamiami Trail, Estero, 239-390-0123;rustysraw.com
Sanibel Grill ― 703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel, 239-472-4453
Sea-Craft Waterfront Tiki ― 3440 Marinatown Lane, North Fort Myers, 239-257-3111
The Sandbar & Grill ― 4606 S Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, 239-500-5520
Twin Peaks ― 2078 Ninth St. N., Naples (Coastland Center mall); 239-465-0005 and 16411 Corporate Commerce Way, Fort Myers; 239-245-9559;twinpeaks.com
