A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows that fans are following the NFL less closely.

Adults who report following the NFL closely have dropped 9% since 2014, the poll finds. Just 51% of men aged 18 to 49 say they follow the NFL closely, down from 75% four years ago. 

The Journal/NBC News poll interviewed 900 adults from Jan. 13-17.

The drop offs, according to the poll, also crossed political lines. Base Democrats who follow the league closely fell by 16 points versus four years ago, while it was 14 points for base Republicans.

League executives have pointed to a changing media environment in which prime-time ratings have dropped across the board.