First and foremost, the NFL is a business.
Not all teams are worth the same amount of money, though, and not all teams bring in the same amount.
A number of factors can impact team value, including market size, team revenue, on-field success and more. Several NFL franchises have been sold recently, including the Denver Broncos (2022), Carolina Panthers (2018) and Buffalo Bills (2014) – all for then-record prices. Another team could soon be for sale, as Dan Snyder and the Washington Commanders hired Bank of America Securities on Nov. 2 to help with “potential transactions.”
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Forbes has created an estimation of what each team is actually worth if they were sold right now. Here’s a full breakdown of the values of NFL franchises in 2022:
Which NFL team is the most valuable?
The Dallas Cowboys have been deemed the most valuable NFL franchise by Forbes for the 14th straight year and rank No. 1 among all sports franchises.
Entering the 2022 season, Jerry Jones’ squad is worth an estimated $8 billion, up 23% from last year. That tops all other NFL franchises by a wide margin, as no other team has an estimated value above even $6.5 billion.
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Behind the Cowboys in the top five are the New England Patriots ($6.4 billion), Los Angeles Rams ($6.2 billion), New York Giants ($6 billion) and Chicago Bears ($5.8 billion).
Which NFL team is the least valuable?
While the Cowboys have been at the top for over a decade, the Cincinnati Bengals are at the opposite end of the scale.
Fresh off their first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years, the Bengals’ future is bright even though the team is valued at a league-lowest $3 billion. They have an electric young QB-WR duo with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, and the franchise’s value should only increase if it becomes a perennial contender.
The other teams at the bottom of the list include the Detroit Lions ($3.05 billion), Arizona Cardinals ($3.27 billion), Buffalo Bills ($3.4 billion) and Jacksonville Jaguars ($3.475 billion).
Full NFL franchise values for 2022
After giving you a taste of the most and least valuable teams, here’s a look at the full ranking from first through 32nd:
- Dallas Cowboys, $8 billion
- New England Patriots, $6.4 billion
- Los Angeles Rams, $6.2 billion
- New York Giants, $6 billion
- Chicago Bears, $5.8 billion
- Washington Commanders, $5.6 billion
- New York Jets, $5.4 billion
- San Francisco 49ers, $5.2 billion
- Las Vegas Raiders, $5.1 billion
- Philadelphia Eagles, $4.9 billion
- Houston Texans, $4.7 billion
- Denver Broncos, $4.65 billion
- Miami Dolphins, $4.6 billion
- Seattle Seahawks, $4.5 billion
- Green Bay Packers, $4.25 billion
- Atlanta Falcons, $4 billion
- Pittsburgh Steelers, $3.975 billion
- Minnesota Vikings, $3.925 billion
- Baltimore Ravens, $3.9 billion
- Los Angeles Chargers, $3.875 billion
- Cleveland Browns, $3.85 billion
- Indianapolis Colts, $3.8 billion
- Kansas City Chiefs, $3.7 billion
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $3.675 billion
- Carolina Panthers, $3.6 billion
- New Orleans Saints, $3.575 billion
- Tennessee Titans, $3.5 billion
- Jacksonville Jaguars, $3.475 billion
- Buffalo Bills, $3.4 billion
- Arizona Cardinals, $3.27 billion
- Detroit Lions, $3.05 billion
- Cincinnati Bengals, $3 billion