Every year, Sportico releases its team valuations for NFL franchises. It reminds us that football is a business, and the exorbitant values of the teams prove it.<\/p>\n
The Cowboys<\/a> remain the most valuable sports franchise among the Big Four sports in the United States. Owner Jerry Jones has transformed the team into a multi-billion-dollar entity over the past four decades since he purchased it. The NFL remains the top sport for investors, as the lowest team value is the Bengals<\/a> at $5.5 billion, which is still at least $1.5 billion more than the lowest teams in MLB, the NHL and the NBA.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here is more information on the value of every NFL franchise.\u00a0<\/p>\n MORE: Where is the NFL Hall of Fame Game played every year?<\/a><\/p>\n Most valuable NFL franchises<\/p>\n Here are the most valuable franchise as of the 2025 NFL season, per Sportico<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n RankTeamOwnerValue1Dallas CowboysJerry Jones$12.8 billion2Los Angeles RamsStan Kroenke$10.43 billion3New York GiantsJohn Mara$10.25 billion4New England PatriotsRobert Kraft$8.76 billion5San Francisco 49ersJed York$8.6 billion6Philadelphia EaglesJeffrey Lurie$8.43 billion7Miami DolphinsStephen Ross$8.25 billion8New York JetsWoody Johnson$8.11 billion9Las Vegas RaidersMark Davis$7.9 billion10Washington CommandersJosh Harris$7.47 billion11Chicago BearsGeorge McCaskey$7.45 billion12Houston TexansCal McNair$7.17 billion13Atlanta FalconsArthur Blank$7.05 billion14Seattle SeahawksJody Allen$6.59 billion15Denver BroncosRob Walton$6.55 billion16Kansas City ChiefsClark Hunt$6.53 billion17Pittsburgh SteelersArt Rooney II$6.51 billion18Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers Inc.$6.48 billion19Tampa Bay BuccaneersBryan Glazer$6.47 billion20Minnesota VikingsZygi Wilf$6.28 billion21Los Angeles ChargersDean Spanos$6.21 billion22Tennessee TitansAmy Adams Strunk$6.20 billion23Cleveland BrownsJimmy Haslam$6.14 billion24Baltimore RavensSteve Bisciotti$6.0 billion25Detroit LionsSheila Ford Hamp$5.88 billion26Buffalo BillsTerry Pegula$5.87 billion27Carolina PanthersDavid Tepper$5.76 billion28Indianapolis ColtsCarlie Irsay-Gordon$5.72 billion29Arizona CardinalsMichael Bidwell$5.66 billion30New Orleans SaintsGayle Benson$5.63 billion31Jacksonville JaguarsShahid Khan$5.57 billion32Cincinnati BengalsMike Brown$5.5 billion<\/p>\n * NFL franchise values will be updated before the start of every season.<\/p>\n 1. Dallas Cowboys<\/p>\n Jerry Jones has developed the Cowboys into a football team, a show and a theme park all wrapped into one. We learned in 2024 that some players didn’t like that public tours included stopping by the weight room and watching the team workout. The Cowboys also have a Netflix show about their cheerleading squad, as well as another docuseries about Jerry Jones and the franchise.\u00a0<\/p>\n MORE: Ranking the 18 greatest Cowboys players ever, from Deion Sanders to Emmitt Smith<\/a><\/p>\n 2. Los Angeles Rams<\/p>\n The Rams<\/a> coming in at No. 2 on this list may surprise people. Much of their value stems from the fact that they are located in Los Angeles and generate revenue from the relatively new SoFi Stadium. The franchise has actually been in the top five for most valuable NFL franchises since 2020.\u00a0<\/p>\n MORE: Complete list of Super Bowl MVP winners through the years<\/p>\n 3. New York Giants<\/p>\n The Giants<\/a> have the benefit of being one of three New York teams but split the use of MetLife Stadium with the Jets<\/a>. Their counterpart comes in as the eighth most valuable franchise, with the Giants edging them out at No. 3. The Giants ranked fourth by Sportico from 2020 to 2022, but then jumped as high as No. 2 in 2023. The G-Men have been ranked third for two consecutive years.\u00a0<\/p>\n MORE: Breaking down the heaviest players of all time in the NFL<\/a><\/p>\n 4. New England Patriots<\/p>\n It helps your value when you have a dynasty for nearly two decades. New England<\/a> has the benefit of being in a good sports market in Boston and remains one of the most valuable franchises in the league, despite still trying to find its footing in the post-Tom Brady era.\u00a0<\/p>\n MORE: Ranking the 18 greatest Patriots players ever, from Mike Vrabel to Tom Brady<\/a><\/p>\n 5. San Francisco 49ers<\/p>\n The 49ers<\/a> have been cemented as the fifth-most valuable franchise in the NFL since 2021. That was the year they went from sixth to fifth and overtook the Jets. The Chargers<\/a> are the lone team based in California that isn’t in the top five, and they come in at No. 21. The Rams and 49ers have more team-related businesses and team real estate which help provide the boost.\u00a0<\/p>\n MORE: Ranking the 18 greatest 49ers players ever, from George Kittle to Jerry Rice<\/a><\/p>\n How NFL franchise values are calculated<\/p>\n Sportico developed its own methodology for determining franchise values. Overall, the site defines valuation as “the sum of the enterprise value of an NFL\u00a0franchise combined with the value of team-related businesses and real estate holdings.”<\/p>\n The website goes in much more detail when defining its team value metric.\u00a0<\/p>\n “NFL franchise valuation, derived from metrics by which football-team transactions occur, including aggregating local and national revenues and factoring in a team-specific multiplier. This represents the market value of the team itself, excluding related businesses held by its owners. It includes the value of each franchise\u2019s 3.13% interest in the league\u2019s properties, including NFL Films, NFL RedZone, 32 Equity (the private equity investment vehicle established by the NFL in 2013) and its digital platforms, which are acquired\/dispossessed in tandem with the sale of a team.”<\/p>\n Sportico also laid out definitions and stipulations for what they term “team-related businesses and real estate holdings.”\u00a0<\/p>\n “The value of a franchise owner\u2019s equity in team-related businesses that are distinct corporate entities, as well as government-assessed real estate related to venue, practice facilities and adjacent developments. Examples include Cowboys owner Jerry Jones\u2019 20% interest in Legends Hospitality, a stadium operations corporation; the Washington Commanders\u2019 subsidiaries, which own nearly 400 acres split between 12 parcels near the team\u2019s stadium and practice facility; and the F1 Miami Grand Prix, which Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has a 15-year contract to operate around Hard Rock Stadium.<\/p>\n This category excludes value derived from enterprises determined as too attenuated from the football team\u2019s operations, which fall into three categories:<\/p>\n (1) Rent from non-football, outside-of-stadium retail operations, like the Green Bay Packers\u2019 Titletown venture or New England Patriots\u2019 Patriot Place.<\/p>\n (2) Licensing fees paid by non-football third parties to a team\u2019s sister company for the use of intellectual property.<\/p>\n (3) Team owner\u2019s investment in businesses unrelated to franchise operations. Examples include the Cowboys\u2019 sister company Blue Star Land\u2019s joint ventures with real estate partners.<\/p>\n For franchises that do not own their venues, the value of a team\u2019s lease\u2014often with advantageous terms negotiated with municipal or state authorities\u2014is captured in the Team Value category.”<\/p>\n This results in the formula that helps to calculate the overall team value for each franchise.\u00a0<\/p>\n MORE NFL: Looking back at the oldest players ever selected in the NFL Draft<\/a><\/p>\n Evolution of NFL franchise values<\/p>\n Even on a year-to-year basis, it is easy to see how much franchise values have evolved. Here is how much each team’s 2025 valuation changed from 2024, ranked by overall valuation in 2025.<\/p>\n Team1-Year Value ChangeCowboys24%Rams34%Giants34%Patriots20%49ers25%Eagles25%Dolphins22%Jets19%Raiders18%Commanders19%Bears19%Texans19%Falcons19%Seahawks18%Broncos19%Chiefs20%Steelers17%Packers20%Buccaneers18%Vikings18%Chargers19%Titans17%Browns19%Ravens17%Lions19%Bills16%Panthers12%Colts15%Cardinals17%Saints18%Jaguars17%Bengals17%<\/p>\n Over longer periods of times the difference in price is eye-opening. For example, Josh Harris purchased the Commanders<\/a> in 2023 for $6.05 billion and just two years later, the franchise has increased $1.42 billion in value. On a grander scale, Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys for $140 million in 1989, and the franchise is now the most valuable in the NFL at $12.8 billion. Put a different way, ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. pointed out that every single dollar that Jones used to buy the Cowboys is now worth $84.33.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys for $150 million on Feb. 25, 1989.<\/p>\n In 36 years, Jerry\u2019s investment has increased a whopping 8,433%.<\/p>\n Put another way, every dollar Jerry invested is now worth $84.33. https:\/\/t.co\/VWW6D1PX4L<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) August 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n MORE NFL: 16 NFL stars you didn’t know were also drafted by MLB teams<\/a><\/p>\n How NFL team values compare to other sports<\/p>\n Here is a look at how the NFL team values compare to other sports.\u00a0<\/p>\n LeagueTeamsRange of ValuesHighest TeamLowest TeamNFL*32$5.5 billion to $12.8 billion$12.8 billion (Cowboys)$5.5 billion (Bengals)NBA**30$3.0 billion to $8.8 billion$8.8 billion (Warriors)$3.0 billion (Grizzlies)MLB**30$1.05 billion to $8.2 billion$8.2 billion (Yankees)$1.05 billion (Marlins)NHL***32$1 billion to $4 billion$4 billion (Maple Leafs)$1 billion (Blue Jackets)<\/p>\n *Data\u00a0provided by Sportico MORE: NFL brothers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame<\/a><\/p>\n Top 5 NFL Franchise ValuesRankTeamValue1Cowboys$12.8 billion2Rams$10.43 billion3Giants$10.25 billion4Patriots$8.76 billion549ers$8.6 billionTop 5 NBA Franchise ValuesRankTeamValue1Warriors$8.8 billion2Knicks$7.5 billion3Lakers$7.1 billion4Celtics$6 billion5Clippers$5.5 billionTop 5 MLB Franchise ValuesRankTeamValue1Yankees$8.2 billion2Dodgers$6.8 billion3Red Sox$4.8 billion4Cubs$4.6 billion5Giants$4 billionTop 5 NHL Franchise ValuesRankTeamValue1Maple Leafs$4 billion2Rangers$3.5 billion3Canadiens$3.1 billion4Kings$2.85 billion5Bruins$2.75 billion<\/p>\n MORE: Ranking the 15 biggest power couples in sports<\/a><\/p>\n
** Data provided by Forbes<\/a>
***Data provided by CNBC Sports<\/a><\/p>\n