New research from sports betting site AskGamblers has revealed the most-Googled sports personalities in the US. By analysing Google search data for 250 athletes since the start of 2026, the study examined national search volumes alongside state-by-state trends.
Key national findings
- LeBron James ranks 1st nationally, with an average of 2,454,200 monthly searches. He leads search volumes in 20 states, including California, Florida, Texas, and New York. With 154 million followers and a 0.68% engagement rate, James can reportedly command up to $1,370,900 per sponsored Instagram post.
- Shedeur Sanders, quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, ranks 2nd, recording 2,406,200 monthly searches across the US. He leads search rankings in 8 states, including Ohio, with 165,000 monthly searches; Georgia, with 110,000; and Colorado, with 74,000.
- Aaron Rodgers ranks 3rd overall and 2nd among quarterbacks, averaging 1,942,900 monthly searches. Rodgers leads in 4 states: Pennsylvania, with 165,000 monthly searches; Wisconsin, with 110,000; Montana; and West Virginia.
- Travis Kelce ranks 4th, with an average of 1,561,700 monthly searches. He leads search interest in his team’s home states of Kansas, with 33,100 searches, and Missouri, with 60,500. Google Trends recorded a 2,733% surge in searches for Kelce on the day Taylor Swift, now his fiancée, first attended a Kansas City Chiefs game. Kelce reportedly earns up to $91,800 per sponsored Instagram post, with an engagement rate of 0.91%.
- Caitlin Clark ranks 5th, averaging 1,354,500 monthly searches, making her the most-Googled female athlete in the study. She leads in Iowa, with 60,500 monthly searches, and South Dakota, with 5,400. Her largest search spike came in April 2024 following her WNBA draft.
- Anthony Edwards ranks 6th, with 1,175,300 average monthly searches across the US. He leads search interest in Minnesota, home of the Timberwolves, with 90,500 monthly searches.
- Josh Allen ranks 7th, averaging 1,170,100 monthly searches. The Buffalo Bills quarterback leads searches in Wyoming, with 5,400 monthly searches, while New York records his highest search volume at 163,000.
- John Cena ranks 8th, with 1,166,000 average monthly searches. Although he does not lead search interest in any individual state, his 21 million followers and 0.24% engagement rate give him a reported potential earning power of $65,200 per sponsored Instagram post.
- Rory McIlroy ranks 9th, averaging 1,045,780 monthly searches, making him the most-Googled golfer in the study.
- Coco Gauff rounds out the top 10, with 1,044,850 average monthly searches, making her the highest-ranked tennis player. Gauff attracts strong search interest across several states, including Florida, with 90,500 monthly searches, and New York, with 110,000.
Top 10 most-Googled athletes nationwide
| Rank | Sports star | Average monthly searches in the US |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LeBron James | 2,454,200 |
| 2 | Shedeur Sanders | 2,406,200 |
| 3 | Aaron Rodgers | 1,942,900 |
| 4 | Travis Kelce | 1,561,700 |
| 5 | Caitlin Clark | 1,354,500 |
| 6 | Anthony Edwards (Ant) | 1,175,300 |
| 7 | Josh Allen | 1,170,100 |
| 8 | John Cena | 1,166,000 |
| 9 | Rory McIlroy | 1,045,780 |
| 10 | Coco Gauff | 1,044,850 |
Industry insights
“An individual can quickly become more popular than the team they come from, or even become the face of a sport, as is the case with Cena and James,” said Irena Ducic, Senior Content Editor at AskGamblers. “When this happens, the sports star is open to an enormous amount of opportunities, from brand deals, sponsorships, and exposure to other industries, so that after they’ve retired from the sport that has made them a household name, they have opportunities in entertainment, gaming, presenting, and more.”
Ducic also noted the rapid emergence of newer athletes on the list. “Sanders, a player who only recently entered the NFL, sits within 48,000 monthly searches of James nationally. That is a striking finding about how rapidly a new athlete can build a cultural footprint in the social media era.”
This crossover appeal extends across the top 10. Athletes such as Kelce and Cena have expanded into film roles, while others host popular podcasts or secure major commercial partnerships. Coco Gauff, for example, has partnerships with New Balance and Rolex, while McIlroy has a long-standing relationship with Nike.
The study was conducted by casino affiliate website AskGamblers, which provides gaming guides and information. The final rankings were based on average monthly Google search volumes recorded during 2026.