A Harris Poll released this week says the NFL, already America’s most popular sport, is "becoming more and more popular."

"Perhaps the most important finding of this new Harris Poll of 1,006 adults surveyed between August 12 and 17, 1998," said the Harris organization, "is that the number of adults who follow professional football has jumped to 55 percent."

That total is four points higher than the percentage of those surveyed which followed pro football last year (51 percent), and continues a climb in the Harris Poll that has seen the NFL’s popularity rise from 49 percent of those surveyed in 1992.

One key factor in the continued growth of the NFL, says Harris, is the increase in the number of women who follow pro football.

In 1992, 36 percent of women surveyed by Harris followed the sport. Last year, the percentage increased to 39 percent. It now stands at 44 percent. This compares to 67 percent of men who follow pro football.