Key Takeaways
- NFL owners aim to maximize franchise value for profit.
- The Dallas Cowboys lead the league, having surpassed the $10 billion mark.
- The Los Angeles Rams have continued their rapid growth since moving to L.A.
While the goal of every
NFL
team is to win a Super Bowl, the owners have an ulterior motive. Make their franchise as valuable as possible, optimizing profits along the way. As one of the world’s most popular sports leagues, each owner is sitting on more than a billion dollars.
Still, as with everything, there are different levels of wealth, even among billionaires.
Forbes recently released their annual list of the NFL’s most valuable teams, and while there are some surprises, the big market teams still dominate in terms of value, and a familiar franchise continues to stand above the rest.
Here are the 32 teams ranked from most to least valuable entering the 2024 season.
1
Dallas Cowboys
Loved or hated, the Cowboys remain North America’s most valuable sports franchise.
- Current Value: $10.1 billion
- Owner: Jerry Jones
Sometimes, sports teams become a lot more than that. The
Dallas Cowboys
are a prime example, as the star is a brand of its own.
This organization has on-field success, celebrity cheerleaders, a state of the art multipurpose stadium, and the league’s most well-known owner. There isn’t a sports team on the planet more valuable than the Cowboys.
After a year in which Dallas saw an operating income of $564 million, it’s clear that Jerry Jones may be out of touch with building a roster, but the man knows how to make money.
2
Los Angeles Rams
Stars shine bright for the Rams following their move to Los Angeles.
- Current Value: $7.6 billion
- Owner: Stan Kroenke
Stan Kroenke didn’t make many friends when he moved the team out of St. Louis and back to Los Angeles. However, he did secure ownership of SoFi Stadium, by far the most expensive sports venue in world history.
The
Los Angeles Rams
have already hosted and won a Super Bowl in their new stadium.
While the team isn’t known for having the most passionate fanbase, their sheer market size and gem of a stadium will keep their value growing for the foreseeable future.
3
New England Patriots
The team’s unprecedented run of dominance vaulted them to the top.
- Current Value: $7.4 billion
- Owner: Robert Kraft
The
New England Patriots
weren’t always the world-famous winners that the 2000s made them out to be. Instead,
Tom Brady
, Robert Kraft, and
Bill Belichick
transformed the Patriots as we know them.
That includes their value, which was last in the NFL entering the 1990 season. It’s a bit different now.
The Patriots are now trying to start a new era, with Brady and Belichick now both out of New England, but there’s no doubt the duo put this franchise on the map.
4
New York Giants
Celebrating 100 seasons, Big Blue is an NFL cornerstone.
- Current Value: $7.3 billion
- Owners: John Mara and Steve Tisch
The last decade has been messy, but the
New York Giants
are one of the NFL’s flagship franchises. Their history includes four NFL championships and four more Super Bowls.
New York has belonged to the Mara family since 1925, through good, bad, and ugly. The Tisch family entered the fray in 1991.
The Giants saw a slight regression in growth, but being in the NY market, their value will always be safe.
5
New York Jets
While plenty of dysfunction remains, the Jets have loyalty in a big market.
- Current Value: $6.9 billion
- Owners: Christopher and Woody Johnson
The last time that the
New York Jets
played in a Super Bowl, let alone won it, was Super Bowl 3.
With
Aaron Rodgers
under center, that’s supposed to change in the next few years. From top to bottom, this organization is committed to winning again, even if the results are pending.
It’s not out of the question to think the Jets can soon surpass their Metlife neighbors in value, as they saw a 13% one-year change in value, compared to the G-Men’s 7%.
6
San Francisco 49ers
A dynasty in the 80s keeps the 49er brand going strong.
- Current Value: $6.8 billion
- Owners: Denise DeBartolo York and John York
This is the franchise of Jerry Rice and Joe Montana. A team who defined the 80s and has appeared in four Super Bowls since then.
The current iteration of the
San Francisco 49ers
can’t get past the Chiefs. That doesn’t change the fact that they’re the biggest threat in the NFC.
7
Las Vegas Raiders
Mark Davis’ move to Sin City has paid off massively for the Silver and Black.
- Current Value: $6.7 billion
- Owner: Carol and Mark Davis
Roulette tables may change to silver and black soon.
Relocating from Oakland, the
Las Vegas Raiders
have settled into their new home and even newer stadium. The 2024 campaign will see the on-field decision-making belong to Antonio Pierce full-time as the team eyes a postseason return.
If the Raiders finally manage to have some success on the field, there’s no telling how far they can climb in value.
8
Philadelphia Eagles
30 years of stable ownership and a consistent contender.
- Current Value: $6.6 billion
- Owner: Jeffrey Lurie
For a fanbase as rabid as the
Philadelphia Eagles
are, Jeffrey Lurie has had to exercise a lot of patience since buying the team in 1994.
Bringing the city its first Super Bowl will make him immortal there. Now, Philadelphia is eyeing the second, and 2024 could be a pivotal point in franchise history after 2023’s epic collapse.
At least the progression in business didn’t slow down, with the Eagles even suprassing a division rival of theirs in franchise value.
9
Chicago Bears
The Bears may be set for a resurgence in their new era.
- Current Value: $6.4 billion
- Owner: Virginia Halas McCaskey
At 101 years old, Halas McCaskey is more than just the oldest owner in America’s major pro sports leagues. She’s the daughter of George Halas, a
Chicago Bears
legend who co-founded the NFL. Football will always rule the Windy City, even when the team is down.
As the Bears get set to enter the
Caleb Williams
era, they have a chance for their on-field success to match their value as a franchise.
Their eventual move to a brand-new stadium within the next few years will further increase their value.
10
Washington Commanders
The league’s newest owner joins the fray, attempting to alter the franchise’s image.
- Current Value: $6.3 billion
- Owner: Josh Harris
Thanks to an all-time high $6.1 billion purchase, Harris is the newest member of the NFL ownership club.
Head coach Dan Quinn and rookie QB
Jayden Daniels
are also fresh faces in the nation’s capital. Times are changing for the
Washington Commanders
after a disastrous 30-year stretch under Dan Snyder.
The Commanders used to be far higher on this list, so Harris has some work to do in order to restore this franchise’s once proud identity.
11
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are still looking to end a playoff-win drought.
- Current Value: $6.2 billion
- Owner: Stephen Ross
When Stephen Ross bought the
Miami Dolphins
in 2008, the team was coming off a miserable 1-15 season, the worst in franchise history.
It took some time, but they’ve steadily strung together four straight winning seasons. The next step is winning their first playoff game since 2000.
The Dolphins certainly have an exciting on-field product now, and they’ve done some rennovations to Hard Rock Stadium since Ross bought the team, which has yielded some substantial growth.
12
Houston Texans
A bright future ahead, led by C.J. Stroud.
- Current Value: $6.1 billion
- Owner: Janice McNair
As their MLB neighbors have done recently, the
Houston Texans
are trying to build a decade-long contender.
McNair, who has had controlling ownership of the team since 2018, is on the verge of accomplishing that. QB
C.J. Stroud
brought new life into Texans football.
With the Texans now being named among Super Bowl contenders, sustained on-field success, combined with being in America’s fourth-largest market, could see the Texans shoot up the rankings in years to come.
13
Green Bay Packers
This historic franchise is the only one that is publicly owned.
- Current Value: $5.6 billion
- Owners: Green Bay Packers, Inc.
The joke around the
Green Bay Packers
is that the drunk fans in the stands are also the owners. To some extent, that’s true, as Green Bay is the league’s only publicly owned team and will be the last thanks to current NFL ownership rules.
If not for their public ownership, the Packers probably would’ve left town a long time ago.
According to Forbes, the Packers experienced a 22% one-year change in growth, which saw them climb to the top half of the league. This is a well-established brand that isn’t going away.
Jordan Love
‘s ascension should only add to the team’s short-term value.
14
Denver Broncos
New ownership trying to restore old glory.
- Current Value: $5.1 billion
- Owner: Rob Walton
In 2022, the Denver Broncos were purchased for $4.65 billion, a record at the time.
Led by Walmart’s Rob Walton, the mission is to make the team a consistent threat in the AFC again. As the lone team in the Rocky Mountains, Denver will always have a ton of support.
15
Seattle Seahawks
Representing the Pacific Northwest, the Seahawks have now tasted success in recent memory.
- Current Value: $5.45 billion
- Owner: Jody Allen
The
Seattle Seahawks
are probably most known for the “12s,” the nickname tagged onto their raucous fanbase.
Flipping from the AFC to the NFC, the Seahawks have found a nice home in the NFC West. Let’s see what’s next in the post-Pete Carroll era.
16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A family that brought stability, despite a rocky start.
- Current Value: $5.4 billion
- Owners: The Glazer Family
Believe it or not, the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
were so awful at the beginning of their existence that their all-time winning percentage is the worst in the NFL.
Yet, since the Glazers took over, the team has two Super Bowls. It always helps when
Tom Brady
steps through the doors.
It’s worth noting that
Baker Mayfield
managed to step in and keep the Bucs’ stranglehold on the NFC South going, helping them to their third straight division title. The Bucs deserve a lot of credit for changing the perception about the franchise.
17
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are run on stability.
- Current Value: $5.3 billion
- Owner: Art Rooney II
Since 1969, the
Pittsburgh Steelers
have employed only three head coaches. The team is tied for the most Super Bowl wins, all of which came after 1970. Success stems from the Steeler Way and current coach
Mike Tomlin
has yet to lead his troops to a losing season.
The Steelers are entrenched in tradition, and their brand extends through much of the country.
18
Atlanta Falcons
The dirty birds are worth a pretty penny since moving to their new home.
- Current Value: $5.2 billion
- Owner: Arthur Blank
Atlanta Falcons
owner Arthur Blank can often be seen patrolling the sidelines on game day. He is one of the NFL’s more prominent owners and made major pushes toward building the team’s current home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Hosting a Super Bowl was a chief motivation for that upgrade. If only the team could lock down their first championship win.
Things certainly look promising this season with
Kirk Cousins
now under center, and the Falcons are expected to emerge as NFC contenders.
19
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland keeps pounding, looking to reach the next level.
- Current Value: $5.15 billion
- Owners: Dee and Jimmy Haslam
It hasn’t been easy being a
Cleveland Browns
fan for quite some time. Yet, it’s tough to find a more passionate fanbase in the NFL, for better or worse.
Eventually, Cleveland’s patience will pay off, and for the owners, that applies to more than just the football part of the business.
The team definitely has one of the stronger rosters in the NFL, but the Browns have a tough mountain to climb playing in the AFC North.
20
Los Angeles Chargers
Excitement is building for a potential first title.
- Current Value: $5.1 billion
- Owner: Dean Spanos
Freshly relocated from their longtime home of San Diego, the
Los Angeles Chargers
are as shiny as their new city.
While the on-field success hasn’t followed since their move, the Chargers being in the L.A. market was inevitably going to lead to them growing in value.
Now, Jim Harbaugh is in town drumming up more excitement. Will
Justin Herbert
bring the team a Super Bowl and succeed where Phillip Rivers and Dan Fouts fell short?