The Dallas Cowboys are again far and away the most valuable franchise in the NFL. In its annual NFL team valuation, Forbes determined that the Cowboys are worth $5.5 billion, $1.4 billion more than the next closest franchise. This marks the 13th consecutive year that America’s Team has clocked in as America’s most valuable team.
Past success may increase the value of a franchise. Each of the eight most valuable franchises have won at least one Super Bowl, and four of the top five have multiple titles.
On the other hand, there are only two teams that are worth less than $2 billion — the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions. Neither of these teams has ever won a Super Bowl and their fanbases have likely been disillusioned by years of futility. These are the 25 hardest teams to root for.
Forbes ranks teams based on their equity, debts, purchase or investment offers, stadium value, revenue, and operating income. Some owners relocate their teams in search of a better deal for a new stadium, which can significantly increase a franchise’s value.
In fact, three different franchises — the Rams, Raiders, and Chargers — are in the process of relocating. The Rams and Chargers moved from St. Louis and San Diego, respectively, to Los Angeles. There, they will share a new stadium complex worth around $5 billion that is slated to open in 2020. Both are playing in temporary homes while their new stadium is built.
As those teams finalize their move to California, the Raiders are leaving it. The Raiders’ 2019 season will be their last in the Oakland area before they decamp for Las Vegas. The new Raiders’ stadium will be worth close to $2 billion, and presumably will add value to the franchise.
Dallas’ value is bolstered by its home, AT&T Stadium. The state-of-the-art arena, constructed in 2009, cost over $1 billion to build, according to ESPN, making it one of the most valuable sporting venues in existence. These are the most expensive stadiums in the world.
Click here to see the most and least valuable teams in the NFL.
32. Buffalo Bills
> Value: $1.9 billion
> Record over the last decade: 67-93
> Ownership: Terry & Kim Pegula
> Super Bowl wins: 0
[in-text-ad]
31. Detroit Lions
> Value: $1.95 billion
> Record over the last decade: 71-89
> Ownership: Martha Firestone Ford
> Super Bowl wins: 0
24/7 Wall St.
30. Cincinnati Bengals
> Value: $2 billion
> Record over the last decade: 85-73-2
> Ownership: Mike Brown
> Super Bowl wins: 0
29. Tennessee Titans
> Value: $2.15 billion
> Record over the last decade: 68-92
> Ownership: Amy Adams Strunk
> Super Bowl wins: 0
[in-text-ad-2]
28. Cleveland Browns
> Value: $2.175 billion
> Record over the last decade: 41-118-1
> Ownership: Dee & Jimmy Haslam
> Super Bowl wins: 0
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
> Value: $2.2 billion
> Record over the last decade: 55-105
> Ownership: Glazer Family
> Super Bowl wins: 1
[in-text-ad]
26. Arizona Cardinals
> Value: $2.25 billion
> Record over the last decade: 80-79-1
> Ownership: Bill Bidwill
> Super Bowl wins: 0
24/7 Wall St.
25. New Orleans Saints
> Value: $2.275 billion
> Record over the last decade: 100-60
> Ownership: Gayle Benson
> Super Bowl wins: 1
24. Kansas City Chiefs
> Value: $2.3 billion
> Record over the last decade: 88-72
> Ownership: Hunt Family
> Super Bowl wins: 1
[in-text-ad-2]
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
> Value: $2.325 billion
> Record over the last decade: 52-108
> Ownership: Shahid Khan
> Super Bowl wins: 0
22. Carolina Panthers
> Value: $2.4 billion
> Record over the last decade: 81-78-1
> Ownership: David Tepper
> Super Bowl wins: 0
[in-text-ad]
21. Los Angeles Chargers
> Value: $2.5 billion
> Record over the last decade: 85-75
> Ownership: Dean Spanos
> Super Bowl wins: 0
24/7 Wall St.
20. Indianapolis Colts
> Value: $2.65 billion
> Record over the last decade: 89-71
> Ownership: James Irsay
> Super Bowl wins: 2
19. Minnesota Vikings
> Value: $2.7 billion
> Record over the last decade: 83-75-2
> Ownership: Zygi Wilf
> Super Bowl wins: 0
[in-text-ad-2]
18. Baltimore Ravens
> Value: $2.75 billion
> Record over the last decade: 93-67
> Ownership: Steve Bisciotti
> Super Bowl wins: 2
17. Atlanta Falcons
> Value: $2.755 billion
> Record over the last decade: 91-69
> Ownership: Arthur Blank
> Super Bowl wins: 0
[in-text-ad]
16. Miami Dolphins
> Value: $2.76 billion
> Record over the last decade: 72-88
> Ownership: Stephen Ross
> Super Bowl wins: 2
24/7 Wall St.
15. Seattle Seahawks
> Value: $2.775 billion
> Record over the last decade: 94-65-1
> Ownership: Paul Allen Trust
> Super Bowl wins: 1
14. Pittsburgh Steelers
> Value: $2.8 billion
> Record over the last decade: 103-56-1
> Ownership: David Rooney Trust, Art Rooney II
> Super Bowl wins: 6
[in-text-ad-2]
13. Green Bay Packers
> Value: $2.85 billion
> Record over the last decade: 100-58-2
> Ownership: Shareholder-owned
> Super Bowl wins: 4
12. Oakland Raiders
> Value: $2.9 billion
> Record over the last decade: 61-99
> Ownership: Mark Davis
> Super Bowl wins: 3
[in-text-ad]
11. Denver Broncos
> Value: $3 billion
> Record over the last decade: 90-70
> Ownership: Pat Bowlen Trust
> Super Bowl wins: 3
10. Philadelphia Eagles
> Value: $3.05 billion
> Record over the last decade: 89-71
> Ownership: Jeffrey Lurie
> Super Bowl wins: 1
9. Houston Texans
> Value: $3.1 billion
> Record over the last decade: 81-79
> Ownership: Janice McNair
> Super Bowl wins: 0
[in-text-ad-2]
8. New York Jets
> Value: $3.2 billion
> Record over the last decade: 70-90
> Ownership: Johnson Family
> Super Bowl wins: 1
7. Washington Redskins
> Value: $3.4 billion
> Record over the last decade: 63-96-1
> Ownership: Daniel Snyder
> Super Bowl wins: 3
[in-text-ad]
6. Chicago Bears
> Value: $3.45 billion
> Record over the last decade: 75-85
> Ownership: McCaskey family
> Super Bowl wins: 1
5. San Francisco 49ers
> Value: $3.5 billion
> Record over the last decade: 75-84-1
> Ownership: Denise DeBartolo York, Jed York
> Super Bowl wins: 5
4. Los Angeles Rams
> Value: $3.8 billion
> Record over the last decade: 65-94-1
> Ownership: Stanley Kroenke
> Super Bowl wins: 1
[in-text-ad-2]
3. New York Giants
> Value: $3.9 billion
> Record over the last decade: 74-86
> Ownership: John Mara, Steven Tisch
> Super Bowl wins: 4
2. New England Patriots
> Value: $4.1 billion
> Record over the last decade: 123-37
> Ownership: Robert Kraft
> Super Bowl wins: 6
[in-text-ad]
1. Dallas Cowboys
> Value: $5.5 billion
> Record over the last decade: 89-71
> Ownership: Jerry Jones
> Super Bowl wins: 5
Find a Qualified Financial Advisor (Sponsor)
Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
