The Most Valuable NFL Teams

Owning an NFL team is something most of us don't think about on a daily basis, mainly because they are worth so much money that an average person could never even dream about owning one. However, have you ever stopped and wondered how much each NFL team is actually worth? It's probably a lot more than you think, NFL teams are constantly growing in value year over year, especially when a team begins to show promise or drafts the next big star. Scroll through this list and find out just how valuable these NFL teams really are. 

The Buffalo Bills ended a nearly 3-decade drought by winning the AFC East in 2020. Today, they’re valued at $2.27 billion, which makes them the least valuable team in the NFL. Team owners, Terry and Kim Pegula, purchased the Bills for $1.4 billion in 2014, so the team’s value has increased since then, as has its success. 

The Cincinnati Bengals had a historical season this year that saw them advance to the Super Bowl before losing to the Los Angeles Rams, yet just going to the Super Bowl was a huge achievement for the franchise. The Bengals are still valued at $2.275 billion, not bad for the second least valuable NFL team. 

The Detroit Lions were valued at $2.4 billion in 2021, a significant increase in value from the $4.5 million Martha Firestone Ford paid for it in 1964. Their roster and management have undergone notable changes since Sheila Ford Hamp became the team’s principal chairman and owner. 

The Cleveland Browns are owned by Dee and Jimmy Haslam, and they are valued at $2.6 billion. The Browns have won a total of 8 championships, but it took a herculean effort from coach Kevin Stefanski to make the Browns a winning team in 2020, and secure their first playoff berth in decades.  

The Tennesse Titans have a franchise value of $2.6 billion, a 14% increase from 2020. Team owner, Amy Adams Strunk must have been impressed by coach Mike Vrabel’s efforts in helping the Titans become an AFC South threat in only his third year as head coach. 

The Arizona Cardinals’ $2.65 billion valuation makes them the 27th most valuable NFL franchise. That signifies a 14% increase in the team’s value during the pandemic, and a monstrous increase in value from when team owner, Michael Bidwill’s grandfather paid $50,000 for the team in 1932. 

Shahid Khan purchased the Jacksonville Jaguars for $770 million in 2011, and today, the Jaguars are valued at $2.8 billion according to Forbes. Despite the monetary gains, the team has recorded its share of losses on the field, and so they’ve gone through different coaches over the years. 

The New Orleans Saints are valued at $2.8B and are therefore the 25th most valuable team in the NFL. Sean Payton was their longtime head coach for about 17 seasons before retiring after the 2021 season, and they feature high-caliber players such as Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara on their roster. 

The Carolina Panthers owner, David Tepper, is one of the wealthiest sports team owners in the world so it’s only right that the Panthers are valued at $2.91 billion. Tepper made some notable changes to the Panthers’ management recently, including hiring Matt Ruhle as head coach and handing him a seven-year, $62 million contract in 2021. 

The Los Angeles Chargers are valued at $2.92 billion, good for the 23rd most valuable franchise in the NFL. However, the team’s management has been rocky behind the scenes in recent seasons; team owner Dea Spanos Berberian had to file a motion in court to stop her brother, and team Chairman, Dean Spanos, from selling the team in 2021.

The Lamar Hunt family has owned the Kansas City Chiefs since 1960 when they paid only $25,000 for the team. Under their management, the Chiefs’ value has skyrocketed. The team is now valued at $2.93 billion and has become a popular destination for some of the NFL’s top players. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the 21st most valuable franchise in the NFL with a $2.94 billion valuation. The team recruited Tom Brady to help them over the hump after missing the playoffs for over a decade and becoming the league laughing stock. 

Arthur Blank paid $545 million for the Atlanta Falcons in 2002 and he has since overseen a period in which the team’s value has skyrocketed. They’re now valued at $3.2 billion, with a 31% debt value, and about $234 million in player expenses. 

The Indianapolis Colts’ $3.25 billion valuation makes them the 19th most valuable NFL franchise. Team owner, James Irsay purchased the team for $14 million in 1972, and he has since overseen a steady increase in the Colts’ value over the years, even after losing their franchise quarterback Andrew Luck. 

Signing star quarterback Kirk Cousins was supposed to improve the Vikings’ fortunes but they’ve been hit by some bad luck since he joined. The team has a $3.35 billion valuation but they haven’t been as fortunate on the field in recent seasons. 

The Ravens currently house the 2019 NFL MVP, Lamar Jackson, on their roster, yet, they have suffered a couple of painful early playoff exits in recent seasons. As a result, team owner Stephen Bisciotti decided his $3.4 billion team needed a better offensive line to complement Jackson’s skills. 

The Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas became the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, though the Raiders still have lots of loyal fans in Oakland and Los Angeles. The construction of the stadium cost $1.9 billion, more than half of the Raiders’ $3.4 billion valuation. 

The Miami Dolphins are the 15th most valuable franchise in the NFL with a $3.42 billion valuation. Team owner, Stephen Ross purchased the Dolphins for $1.1 billion, so the team’s value has tripled in 13 years. The team is in such high demand that even celebrities like Jennifer Lopez have owned portions of the team at one point. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers are owned by Arthur Rooney II and Daniel Rooney Trust. They’re also valued at $3.43 billion, and they have the likes of IHeart Media and KDKA-TV as their media partners. The Steelers have enjoyed a lot of success lately; they enjoyed their 15th straight winning season under Mike Tomlin in 2021. 

The Green Bay Packers are a shareholder-owned NFL team valued at $3.47 billion. They are one of the small-town teams in the league and the only non-profit community-owned team in the US. Like many other NFL teams, the Packers recorded operating losses during the pandemic, but $120 million in gains helped ease those losses. 

Paul G. Allen Trust purchased the Seattle Seahawks for $194 million in 1997 but the team is now worth $3.5 billion. They have appeared in the playoffs in all but two seasons since Pete Carroll took over as head coach, and they also have star wideout, Tyler Lockett on their roster. 

The Texans’ $3.7 billion valuation makes the Janice McNair-owned team the 11th most valuable NFL franchise. The team was founded in 1999, and up until Bob McNair’s death in 2018, they were his team. The Texans are the youngest NFL franchise, as they only began competing as an expansion team in 2002. 

Like the Seattle Seahawks, the Denver Broncos are also owned by a Trust, but the Broncos have a slightly higher $3.75 billion valuation. After team CEO and President, Joe Ellis announced he wouldn’t be at the helm of the team’s affairs after the 2021 season, several options were considered, and in the end, Condoleezza Rice was brought on board as part-owner. 

The Philadelphia Eagles are valued at $3.8 billion, good for the NFL’s 9th most valuable franchise. The Eagles’ home games are played at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia, and the team is owned by Jeffrey Lurie. The bankruptcy of the Frankford Yellow Jackets led to the creation of the Philadelphia Eagles franchise as a replacement. 

The Johnson Family-owned New York Jets are valued at $4.05 billion and are therefore the 8th most valuable NFL franchise. The team didn’t find much success with Adam Gase so former 49ers defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh was brought in to fix things. 

The Chicago Bears have a historic franchise, best known for their rivalry with the Green Bay Packers. The McCaskey family finally decided to move their $4.075 billion franchise away from their long-standing Soldier Field Stadium when they bid to buy the Arlington International Racecourse in 2020. 

The $4.17 billion San Francisco 49ers is owned by John York and Denise DeBartolo. The 49ers are one of the older NFL teams, as the team was founded in 1946, and it joined the NFL in 1949 after a merger of the leagues. They have since been a major force in the NFC West.

The Daniel Snyder-owned Washington Commanders are the NFL’s fifth most valuable team. The Commanders are a $4.2 billion franchise whose home games are played at FedExField in Maryland, and whose headquarters and training facility are in Virginia. They are 600 wins away from winning 1,000 NFL games making it one of only five teams to achieve the feat. 

The Los Angeles Rams are the fourth most valuable franchise in the NFL courtesy of their $4.8 billion valuation that is only slightly exceeded by their $5 billion SoFi stadium. The Rams moved into the modern stadium in 2020, and the Chargers hopped on for the ride as well. 

The New York Giants came in second in a weak NFC East in their first season with Joe Judge as head coach. Star running back Saquon Barkley suffered a torn ACL early in the season that ruled him out for the rest of the season. 

At a valuation of $5 billion, the Patriots are the second most valuable NFL team. The team recorded its first losing season in years after the Tom Brady era came to an end. Cam Newton was brought in as Brady’s replacement but a string of injuries reduced his ability to effectively contribute to the team’s success. 

The NFL’s most valuable franchise, the Dallas Cowboys, has called AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas home since 2009 when they funded the build with $1.3 billion dollars. The team is owned by Jerry Jones, and according to Forbes, it is valued at $6.5 billion.