The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable NFL team in Sportico’s 2026 estimates at $15.5 billion. The Los Angeles Rams rank second at $12.7 billion, and the New York Giants are third at $12.0 billion. Nine franchises are valued at $10 billion or more.
This ranking covers all 32 teams and uses Sportico’s August 2026 franchise-value estimates, including team-related businesses and real estate. These are informed estimates of what each franchise is worth, not confirmed sale prices or a ranking of current on-field strength.
Table of Contents
- How the Ranking Works
- Key Numbers
- Tier 1: $15.0B+ Valuation
- Tier 2: $12.5B+ Valuation
- Tier 3: $10.0B+ Valuation
- Tier 4: $9.0B+ Valuation
- Tier 5: $8.5B+ Valuation
- Tier 6: $8.0B+ Valuation
- Tier 7: $7.0B+ Valuation
- What the Valuations Reveal
- Complete NFL Franchise Valuations Table
- Sources and Data Notes
- Conclusion
- Related NFL Rankings
How the NFL Franchise Valuation Ranking Works
Estimated franchise value determines every position. The team with the higher Sportico estimate ranks higher, regardless of its 2025 record, playoff finish or roster outlook. The tiers use the lower bounds displayed in the graphics: Tier 1 begins at $15.0 billion, Tier 2 at $12.5 billion, Tier 3 at $10.0 billion and so on.
Franchise value is broader than football performance. Shared national media revenue gives every NFL team a powerful financial base, while local sponsorships, premium seating, market size, stadium economics, brand reach and related real estate help separate one organization from another. That is why a team can rank highly here without ranking among the league’s best teams on the field.
NFL Franchise Valuations: Key Numbers
- Most valuable team: Dallas Cowboys at $15.5 billion.
- League total: $298.93 billion from the rounded team estimates, or approximately $299 billion.
- Average value: $9.34 billion, up from $7.13 billion in the previous Sportico edition.
- $10 billion club: Nine teams, led by Dallas, Los Angeles and the New York Giants.
- Median value: $8.72 billion, the midpoint between the Chiefs and Steelers.
- League floor: Cincinnati ranks 32nd at $7.4 billion.
Tier 1: $15.0B+ Franchise Valuation
Tier 1 features the Dallas Cowboys at an estimated $15.5 billion.
1. Dallas Cowboys: $15.5B
Dallas leads Sportico’s NFL list for the seventh consecutive edition and sits $2.8 billion ahead of the Rams. The separation comes from more than the Cowboys’ national following. Their commercial reach, sponsorship operation, stadium business and related assets give them revenue opportunities that most teams cannot match.
The scale of the lead is the real story. Dallas is worth about 22% more than the second-place Rams, and that $2.8 billion gap is larger than the entire $2.38 billion spread from No. 10 Atlanta to No. 32 Cincinnati.
Tier 2: $12.5B+ Franchise Valuation
Tier 2 features the Los Angeles Rams at an estimated $12.7 billion.
2. Los Angeles Rams: $12.7B
The Rams occupy Tier 2 alone. Their move back to Los Angeles, control of SoFi Stadium and connection to the surrounding Hollywood Park development place the franchise at the center of a major sports and entertainment business, not just a football operation.
That asset base helps explain why Los Angeles ranks above older brands with larger trophy collections. The Rams still trail Dallas by a meaningful margin, but they hold a $700 million advantage over the Giants.
Tier 3: $10.0B+ Franchise Valuation
Tier 3 includes the New York Giants at $12.0B, New England Patriots at $10.4B, New York Jets at $10.35B, Philadelphia Eagles at $10.31B, Miami Dolphins at $10.25B, San Francisco 49ers at $10.21B and Las Vegas Raiders at $10.1B.
Tier 3 contains seven franchises, but the Giants are separated from the rest. New York is valued at $12.0 billion, while only $300 million separates the Patriots in fourth from the Raiders in ninth.
3. New York Giants: $12.0B
The Giants combine access to the country’s largest media market with a century of NFL history and a broad fan base. Their estimate is $1.6 billion below the Rams but $1.6 billion above New England, making them the clear bridge between the top two and the tightly packed $10 billion group.
4. New England Patriots: $10.4B
New England’s six Super Bowl championships under Robert Kraft transformed the Patriots from a regional franchise into a national brand. Gillette Stadium and the surrounding Patriot Place development also give the organization valuable event, retail and real-estate components.
5. New York Jets: $10.35B
The Jets show how strongly scarcity and market access can influence NFL value. They share MetLife Stadium with the Giants and have not matched their rival’s recent championship history, yet a place in the New York market keeps the franchise among the league’s five most valuable.
6. Philadelphia Eagles: $10.31B
Philadelphia pairs a large regional market with intense local demand and two Super Bowl titles since the 2017 season. The Eagles sit only $40 million behind the Jets in Sportico’s rounded estimates.
7. Miami Dolphins: $10.25B
The Dolphins benefit from an international destination market and a stadium campus used for more than NFL games. Hard Rock Stadium’s event calendar broadens the business beyond the team’s eight or nine regular-season home dates.
8. San Francisco 49ers: $10.21B
The 49ers bring together a five-championship history, a national following and the corporate strength of the Bay Area. At $10.21 billion, they rank only $40 million behind Miami and $110 million ahead of Las Vegas.
9. Las Vegas Raiders: $10.1B
The Raiders close the $10 billion group. Their distinctive national brand traveled from Oakland to Los Angeles, back to Oakland and then to Las Vegas, where Allegiant Stadium places the franchise in a major event and tourism market.
Tier 4: $9.0B+ Franchise Valuation
Tier 4 includes the Atlanta Falcons at $9.78B, Washington Commanders at $9.64B, Seattle Seahawks at $9.61B, Houston Texans at $9.52B, Chicago Bears at $9.45B and Denver Broncos at $9.18B.
All six Tier 4 teams fall within a $600 million band. Atlanta is close to joining the $10 billion club, while Denver still sits comfortably above the next tier.
10. Atlanta Falcons: $9.78B
Atlanta leads Tier 4 through the combination of a growing market and a modern stadium business. The Falcons are $320 million short of the Raiders and the $10 billion cutoff.
11. Washington Commanders: $9.64B
Washington sold for $6.05 billion in 2023, then a record price for a sports franchise. Sportico’s new estimate puts the Commanders $3.59 billion above that transaction, illustrating how quickly the NFL’s valuation environment has moved.
12. Seattle Seahawks: $9.61B
Seattle’s estimate increased 46%, the largest jump highlighted in the 2026 report. It also closely tracks the announced $9.612 billion sale price for the franchise, a transaction that remained subject to NFL approval at the time of review.
13. Houston Texans: $9.52B
Houston is the NFL’s newest franchise, but it operates in one of the country’s largest markets. That market scale and the scarcity of NFL ownership matter more to valuation than the Texans’ shorter history.
14. Chicago Bears: $9.45B
The Bears are one of the league’s oldest franchises and the only NFL team in the Chicago market. Their ranking shows the durable value of geography, history and a fan base that spans generations.
15. Denver Broncos: $9.18B
The Broncos were purchased for $4.65 billion in 2022. Four years later, Sportico’s estimate is nearly double that price, reflecting both the strength of the Denver market and league-wide appreciation.
Tier 5: $8.5B+ Franchise Valuation
Tier 5 includes the Kansas City Chiefs at $8.74B, Pittsburgh Steelers at $8.7B, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at $8.68B, Los Angeles Chargers at $8.65B, Tennessee Titans at $8.62B, Cleveland Browns at $8.6B and Green Bay Packers at $8.59B.
Tier 5 is the tightest band in the ranking. Only $150 million separates Kansas City in 16th from Green Bay in 22nd, an amount equal to less than 2% of either team’s estimated value.
16. Kansas City Chiefs: $8.74B
Three championships in five seasons made Kansas City one of the NFL’s most visible teams despite its smaller home market. The Chiefs lead this tier, but they are only $40 million ahead of Pittsburgh.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: $8.7B
Pittsburgh’s value rests on unusual national reach for a mid-sized market. Six Super Bowl titles, long-term ownership stability and generations of supporters keep the Steelers near much larger-market teams.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $8.68B
Tampa Bay sits two spots ahead of the Browns and one ahead of the Chargers. The franchise combines a growing Florida market with the national attention created by its 2020 championship season.
19. Los Angeles Chargers: $8.65B
The Chargers do not control SoFi Stadium in the same way the Rams do, which helps explain the large gap between the two Los Angeles franchises. Even so, access to the market and the league’s media economics keep the Chargers in the middle of the NFL table.
20. Tennessee Titans: $8.62B
Tennessee lands almost exactly in the center of this crowded tier. The Titans are only $30 million behind the Chargers and $30 million ahead of Green Bay in the rounded estimates.
21. Cleveland Browns: $8.6B
Cleveland’s ranking is built on a deeply established regional following and the financial floor shared by every NFL club. The Browns are separated from the Packers by just $10 million.
22. Green Bay Packers: $8.59B
Green Bay is the market-size exception in the NFL. The league’s only community-owned franchise plays in its smallest home market, yet its history, nationwide following and Lambeau Field business keep it within $150 million of the tier leader.
Tier 6: $8.0B+ Franchise Valuation
Tier 6 includes the Minnesota Vikings at $8.26B, Baltimore Ravens at $8.2B, Buffalo Bills at $8.13B, Carolina Panthers at $8.07B, Detroit Lions at $8.02B and Arizona Cardinals at $8.0B.
Tier 6 runs from $8.0 billion to $8.26 billion. The narrow range makes the teams’ exact order less important than the larger conclusion: even franchises outside the top 20 are now valued around $8 billion.
23. Minnesota Vikings: $8.26B
Minnesota tops the tier with a strong regional following and U.S. Bank Stadium at the center of its local business. The Vikings are $330 million below Green Bay but only $60 million above Baltimore.
24. Baltimore Ravens: $8.2B
The Ravens have built a strong brand in only three decades, supported by two Super Bowl titles and sustained competitiveness. They sit near the midpoint of a league where the difference between 23rd and 28th is just $260 million.
25. Buffalo Bills: $8.13B
Buffalo has one of the NFL’s smallest markets, but its regional loyalty and recent run of contention have expanded the franchise’s profile. The Bills rank $130 million above the $8 billion line.
26. Carolina Panthers: $8.07B
Carolina’s estimate reflects the reach of a two-state regional market and the scarcity of NFL teams. The Panthers can rank in the bottom quarter and still carry a value above $8 billion.
27. Detroit Lions: $8.02B
Detroit sits just above the tier floor. The Lions’ long-standing place in the market, combined with renewed national attention around the team, puts them slightly ahead of Arizona.
28. Arizona Cardinals: $8.0B
Arizona closes Tier 6 at exactly $8.0 billion. The Cardinals’ position reflects the size and growth of the Phoenix market even though the team ranks in the NFL’s bottom five by estimated value.
Tier 7: $7.0B+ Franchise Valuation
Tier 7 includes the Jacksonville Jaguars at $7.91B, Indianapolis Colts at $7.77B, New Orleans Saints at $7.59B and Cincinnati Bengals at $7.4B.
The bottom tier still contains four of the world’s most valuable sports properties. Jacksonville is only $90 million below Tier 6, and Cincinnati sets an extraordinary league floor at $7.4 billion.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars: $7.91B
Jacksonville leads Tier 7. The Jaguars operate in a smaller local market, but their regular London presence gives the franchise an international platform that few NFL teams use as consistently.
30. Indianapolis Colts: $7.77B
Indianapolis is $140 million behind Jacksonville and $180 million ahead of New Orleans. A stable regional fan base and Lucas Oil Stadium support the Colts despite their smaller market.
31. New Orleans Saints: $7.59B
The Saints’ value is tied to an unusually strong connection with New Orleans and the Gulf South. Their local market is limited compared with teams near the top, but the franchise remains worth nearly $7.6 billion.
32. Cincinnati Bengals: $7.4B
Cincinnati ranks last for the seventh consecutive Sportico edition, but the number needs context. A $7.4 billion estimate is roughly 35% higher than the Bengals’ previous value and demonstrates how high the NFL’s financial floor has become.
What the 2026 NFL Valuations Reveal
The top nine control one-third of the league’s value
The nine franchises valued at $10 billion or more are worth a combined $101.82 billion. That is about 34.1% of the league’s $298.93 billion total, even though those teams represent only 28.1% of its clubs.
Dallas creates more separation than the middle of the league
The Cowboys’ $2.8 billion lead over the Rams is larger than the $2.38 billion gap between the Falcons in 10th and the Bengals in 32nd. One outlier at the top creates more separation than 23 teams across the rest of the table.
The middle is extremely compressed
Kansas City through Green Bay occupy seven consecutive positions from $8.74 billion to $8.59 billion. Minnesota through Arizona add six more teams within $260 million. A modest change in a stadium project, related asset or revenue estimate can therefore move a franchise several places without changing the league’s broader financial picture.
The league floor is rising faster than the hierarchy is changing
The average estimate increased from $7.13 billion to $9.34 billion, a rise of about 31%. Cincinnati still ranks last, but its $7.4 billion value is higher than the prior edition’s league average. The order matters; the larger story is that every NFL ownership stake has become dramatically more valuable.
Complete NFL Franchise Valuations Table
The table ranks all 32 franchises by Sportico’s 2026 estimated values. Figures are rounded to the nearest $10 million where the source provides two decimal places.
| Rank | Team | Value | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas Cowboys | $15.5B | Tier 1 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Rams | $12.7B | Tier 2 |
| 3 | New York Giants | $12.0B | Tier 3 |
| 4 | New England Patriots | $10.4B | Tier 3 |
| 5 | New York Jets | $10.35B | Tier 3 |
| 6 | Philadelphia Eagles | $10.31B | Tier 3 |
| 7 | Miami Dolphins | $10.25B | Tier 3 |
| 8 | San Francisco 49ers | $10.21B | Tier 3 |
| 9 | Las Vegas Raiders | $10.1B | Tier 3 |
| 10 | Atlanta Falcons | $9.78B | Tier 4 |
| 11 | Washington Commanders | $9.64B | Tier 4 |
| 12 | Seattle Seahawks | $9.61B | Tier 4 |
| 13 | Houston Texans | $9.52B | Tier 4 |
| 14 | Chicago Bears | $9.45B | Tier 4 |
| 15 | Denver Broncos | $9.18B | Tier 4 |
| 16 | Kansas City Chiefs | $8.74B | Tier 5 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh Steelers | $8.7B | Tier 5 |
| 18 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $8.68B | Tier 5 |
| 19 | Los Angeles Chargers | $8.65B | Tier 5 |
| 20 | Tennessee Titans | $8.62B | Tier 5 |
| 21 | Cleveland Browns | $8.6B | Tier 5 |
| 22 | Green Bay Packers | $8.59B | Tier 5 |
| 23 | Minnesota Vikings | $8.26B | Tier 6 |
| 24 | Baltimore Ravens | $8.2B | Tier 6 |
| 25 | Buffalo Bills | $8.13B | Tier 6 |
| 26 | Carolina Panthers | $8.07B | Tier 6 |
| 27 | Detroit Lions | $8.02B | Tier 6 |
| 28 | Arizona Cardinals | $8.0B | Tier 6 |
| 29 | Jacksonville Jaguars | $7.91B | Tier 7 |
| 30 | Indianapolis Colts | $7.77B | Tier 7 |
| 31 | New Orleans Saints | $7.59B | Tier 7 |
| 32 | Cincinnati Bengals | $7.4B | Tier 7 |
Sources and Data Notes
- Sportico team valuation database for the underlying franchise-value framework and annual estimates.
- Reuters report on Sportico’s 2026 NFL valuations for the publication date, top of the ranking, league average and year-over-year context.
- Associated Press report on the Seattle Seahawks sale agreement for the announced transaction price and approval status.
Data scope: Sportico’s August 2026 estimated franchise values, including team-related businesses and real estate. Values are estimates rather than completed sale prices. The $298.93 billion total and other calculations use the rounded values displayed in the source ranking, so they may differ slightly from calculations using unrounded figures. Football context is current through the completed 2025 NFL season.
Last reviewed: August 15, 2026.
Which NFL Team Is Worth the Most?
The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL’s most valuable franchise at an estimated $15.5 billion, with a larger lead over the Rams than the entire valuation spread from 10th to 32nd. Yet the strongest league-wide signal is the floor: even the last-place Bengals are valued at $7.4 billion, more than the previous edition’s average NFL team.
