Dallas Cowboys Lead the Way as Average NFL Franchise Values Tops $7bn

The 2025 NFL season marks a significant financial milestone: every franchise is now valued at over $5 billion for the first time in history. This surge highlights the league's commercial strength and long-term stability.

Leading the pack are the Dallas Cowboys, whose valuation has skyrocketed to $13 billion, making them the most valuable sports franchise in the world. This figure, nearly double their value from just four years ago, reflects their exceptional brand strength, diversified revenue streams and a strategy that has consistently maximised stadium and commercial opportunities.

Following closely are the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants, valued at approximately $10.5 billion and $10.1 billion, respectively. These three teams are the first in NFL history to surpass the $10 billion mark, a milestone that reflects the expansion of franchise equity across the league and the enduring popularity of the sport in major markets. The Giants’ valuation has been further underlined by the recent agreement to sell a 10% minority stake to Julia Koch and her family, a transaction that reinforces investor confidence at these unprecedented levels.

The average value of an NFL team has risen to around $7.1 billion, which is a 25% increase from the previous year. This growth showcases the strength of the overall league. While media rights remain the primary driver of these values, merchandise sales, ticket sales and the league's efforts to expand into international markets have also played important roles.

Notably, franchise values are increasingly separate from on-field performance. Teams with modest recent records are still witnessing their worth rise, thanks to factors such as market size, loyal fan bases and long-term investments in infrastructure. This trend suggests that financial strength in the NFL relies as much on branding and business operations as it does on athletic success.

The Cowboys' position as the league's most valuable team for the 19th consecutive year indicates a rare consistency in professional sports. Despite not winning a Super Bowl since 1996, the franchise continues to thrive commercially, demonstrating how global marketing efforts and strong management can compensate for a lack of recent championships.

The rising valuations have broader implications for the future of team ownership. As franchise prices reach new heights, outright ownership by individual investors is becoming increasingly unrealistic. Instead, consortia, family groups and institutional investors are likely to play a larger role in NFL governance moving forward. This structural shift may reshape how teams are managed and how investments are leveraged across the league in the years to come.