NFL Valuations Soar
Dallas Cowboys Remain NFL's Most Valuable Franchise as League-Wide Values Soar 31% to Record Highs
Key Points
Seattle Seahawks rank 12th in Sportico's NFL valuations despite selling for an NFL record roughly $9.61 billion, underscoring that the sale price does not automatically place a franchise in the top of the value ladder.
The New York Jets jump into the NFL's top five with a valuation of about $10.35 billion.
Bottom-five valuations include the Cincinnati Bengals at about $7.4 billion, with the Saints ($7.59B), Colts ($7.77B), Jaguars ($7.91B) and Cardinals ($8B) also in the low end.
Cowboys generate about $1.3 billion in revenue, and Real Madrid remains the only sports franchise posting more revenue than them.
Beyond the Falcons' top-10 rise, the top 10 also features the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders.
The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL's most valuable franchise for the seventh straight year, worth $15.5 billion, according to Sportico's 2026 rankings. That figure is the highest ever recorded for any sports franchise and marks a 21% jump from last year alone.
Across the entire league, the numbers are staggering. The average NFL team is now worth about $9.34 billion — up 31% year over year. All 32 franchises combined are valued at roughly $299 billion, with total league revenue hitting around $23.5 billion last season, The Score reported.
Cowboys' Brand and Revenue Set Them Apart
The Cowboys generate about $1.3 billion in revenue annually. Only Real Madrid, the Spanish soccer giant, posts more revenue than Dallas among all sports franchises worldwide, according to Freedom 96.9. That kind of earning power — built on a massive stadium, strong brand, and diverse business interests — explains why the Cowboys have held the top spot for seven consecutive years.
The next closest NFL teams are not even close. The Los Angeles Rams sit at $12.7 billion, and the New York Giants are valued at $12 billion, per Taylorville Daily News. The New England Patriots also crossed the $10 billion mark, joining an elite group at the top of the league.
Jets, Eagles, and Falcons Climb Into the Top 10
The New York Jets made a big jump this year, cracking the NFL's top five with a valuation of about $10.35 billion. The Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, and Las Vegas Raiders also landed in the top 10, according to The Spun.
One of the bigger movers is the Atlanta Falcons, who rose into the top 10 as well. Teams near the top tend to benefit from large stadium deals and strong local markets. On-field performance plays a smaller role than most fans might expect.
Seahawks' Record Sale Doesn't Match Their Ranking
The Seattle Seahawks sold for a record $9.61 billion — the highest sale price in NFL history. But that deal doesn't place them near the top of Sportico's valuations. The Seahawks rank 12th on the list, The Score noted. Sale price and franchise value are calculated differently, which explains the gap.
Bengals and Four Others Sit at the Bottom
The Cincinnati Bengals are the league's least valuable franchise at about $7.4 billion. Four other teams round out the bottom five: the New Orleans Saints at $7.59 billion, the Indianapolis Colts at $7.77 billion, the Jacksonville Jaguars at $7.91 billion, and the Arizona Cardinals at $8 billion, per Taylorville Daily News.
Even those bottom figures would have seemed unthinkable a decade ago. The 31% single-year jump shows how fast NFL franchise values are rising across the board, driven by media rights deals, stadium investments, and growing global interest in the sport, according to ArchyNetys.
Sentiment
Mostly PositivePublishers
11
Articles
89
Reach
100
