The 106th NFL season kicks off on Thursday, the 4th of September, drawing attention not only to the action on the field, but also to the business that drives the league.
Franchise valuations have reached unprecedented levels, with the average team now worth more than $7 billion. The sport has evolved into a global business empire, fuelled by record broadcast deals, stadium revenue, sponsorships, and cultural dominance that began in North America and has now extended worldwide.
This year’s most valuable franchises showcase a mix of history, market size, and recent success. Some boast iconic legacies stretching back decades, others have surged on the back of new stadiums or relocations to bigger cities. Yet ,they all share one thing in common: their ability to generate extraordinary financial power.
Forbes has ranked the NFL’s 32 franchises by value, and with the 2025 season nearing, we take a look at the full list from lowest to highest.
NFL's most valuable teams in 2025 (32-11)
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10 Washington Commanders
$7.6 billion
Washington Commanders
The Commanders have emerged from years of instability to capture national attention with a competitive roster and an ambitious ownership team. Rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, led the team to an NFC Championship Game last season, giving life to a long-suffering fanbase in the nation’s capital.
Off the field, plans for a $3.7 billion new stadium promise to modernise the fan experience and push the franchise into new commercial territory. Merchandise sales, national media exposure, and the growth of their fanbase across social platforms have all contributed to the team’s immense value, combining athletic potential with strong business fundamentals.
9 Las Vegas Raiders
$7.7 billion
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders continue to thrive in Las Vegas, where Allegiant Stadium has become a must-visit destination for fans and tourists. The team’s silver-and-black branding retains its iconic appeal, while minority ownership involvement from Tom Brady has added star power to the front office.
On the field, the Raiders have experienced mixed results in a tough AFC West division, but their high-profile location and stadium revenue streams give them an enduring commercial edge. Corporate partnerships, VIP experiences, and national media attention all contribute to the team’s elevated status, combining spectacle and football in a truly unique manner. If the Raiders can translate that commercial strength into consistent on-field success, they could become the complete package.
Newly drafted running back, Ashton Jeanty, could be central to that effort if his standout college form is any indication, but an elite quarterback is what is lacking to ensure that success in some form arrives.
8 New York Jets
$8.1 billion
New York Jets upset
The Jets are looking to turn things around after a decade-and-a-half without reaching the playoffs, even though they remain in one of America’s biggest sports markets. With MetLife Stadium shared with the Giants, they have leveraged New York’s media status to amplify their brand, attracting attention even during seasons where they’ve been amongst the league’s worst teams. After finishing 5‑12 in 2024, the team now faces the challenge of ending their prolonged playoff drought, with much depending on new signing Justin Fields after the release of Aaron Rodgers.
Benched for much of last season in Pittsburgh in favour of Russell Wilson, Fields will be expected to lead the Jets’ revitalised roster and finally live up to the potential that made him a headline draftee in 2021. Nationwide TV coverage and merchandise demand ensure the franchise retains commercial strength, but on-field improvement is essential to fully realise their value.
7 Chicago Bears
$8.2 billion
Bears warmup
The Bears’ legacy is one of the most famous in NFL history, and their presence in one of America’s largest cities gives them a consistent commercial stage. The historic Soldier Field remains a hub for fans and events, but plans for a newer, more modern stadium are on the horizon.
Drafting quarterback Caleb Williams first overall in 2024 generated huge excitement and attention, and his rookie campaign showed promise. He passed for over 3,500 yards with 20 touchdowns with just six interceptions. However, a below-average completion percentage highlighted ongoing challenges, partly due to a struggling run game where Deandre Swift recorded a career-low in yards per carry.
Williams’ second season will be critical as the Bears aim to convert potential into consistent success, energising fans locally and nationally. Strong ticket sales, broadcast deals, and merchandise all contribute to their high valuation, demonstrating how tradition, market, and ambition tie in to create one of the league’s most respected franchises.
6 Philadelphia Eagles
$8.3 billion
Philadelphia Eagles offensive line Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia’s passionate fanbase and recent Super Bowl success have placed the Eagles as one of the NFL’s fastest-growing financial and cultural powerhouses. Lincoln Financial Field not only hosts the Eagles' home games, but it will also play host to six 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, after the success of their eight matches at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, creating a massive new revenue opportunity.
Jalen Hurts’ leadership and the team’s competitive consistency make them a threat in the NFC every season, while their market engagement ensures merchandise and media coverage remain strong. The combination of on-field excellence and off-field business innovation is why Philadelphia continues to rank among the league’s most valuable teams as well as being a Super Bowl favourite.
The upcoming season will present a major challenge for the Eagles as they begin with a target on their backs as holders of the Lombardi Trophy. That task is even tougher this year after salary cap constraints forced them to lose several starting players through free agency and trades.
5 San Francisco 49ers
$8.6 billion
2023 San Francisco 49ers Week 16 vs. Baltimore Ravens Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
The 49ers integrate tradition with a modern market-savvy approach. Levi’s Stadium, one of the most technologically advanced NFL venues, provides a platform for high-value sponsorships, events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and fan experiences, while the Silicon Valley corporate market fuels a range of lucrative partnerships.
Stars like Christian McCaffrey and Nick Bosa will need to step up to keep the team competitive after a disappointing 2024 season, which followed a Super Bowl appearance the year before.
Recent new investment into the franchise has strengthened its financial footing and allowed the team to explore some of the biggest commercial opportunities available, highlighting how the 49ers are as innovative off the field as they strive to be on it. Their value comes from a combination of strong history, strategic location, and a commitment to sustained on-field success, keeping fans and investors highly engaged at all times.
4 New England Patriots
$9 billion
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Bailey Zappe throws a pass for the New England Patriots Credit: Kevin R. Wexler-USA TODAY NETWORK
The Patriots were always going to have a challenge to succeed in the post-Brady era and even the post-Belichick era, though, recent seasons have shown just how difficult it is to sustain success without the duo that defined a dynasty. A 4‑13 record in 2024 highlighted the challenges of rebuilding a roster and adapting to new coaching strategies, but New England’s reputation, fan loyalty, and global recognition remain top tier.
Gillette Stadium continues to generate revenue through events and corporate partnerships, while Robert Kraft’s leadership ensures the franchise remains financially robust despite on-field struggles. Media coverage, merchandise, and consistent branding keep the Patriots in the conversation as one of the NFL’s most influential teams. The challenge now is translating their historical dominance and institutional strength into consistent results on the field, proving that even in transition, New England remains a benchmark for both sporting and commercial success.
3 New York Giants
$10.1 billion
New York Giants defensive huddle
The Giants’ deep championship history and long-standing fanbase give them the edge over the Jets in terms of popularity in New York, while the city’s status as a media hotspot further amplifies their value. Four Super Bowl titles and a multi-generational following provide a huge reach, and continued investor interest alongside constant national and international media attention underlines the franchise’s global appeal.
On the field, the Giants face pressure to improve after inconsistent seasons, having only made the playoffs twice since their 2012 Super Bowl victory over Tom Brady’s Patriots. Questions remain over their quarterback situation and defensive depth, and fans are eager to see the team return to contention under new quarterback Russell Wilson.
How they perform this season will be closely watched in one of the league’s toughest media markets. High-profile sponsorships, merchandise sales, and national media visibility all feed into their value, making the Giants a model of market power paired with historical prestige, proving that even amid challenges, their brand remains one of the NFL’s most recognisable.
2 Los Angeles Rams
$10.5 billion
Los Angeles rams Credit- Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Rams have transformed their market since returning to Los Angeles, with SoFi Stadium acting as a focal point for both football and entertainment. The venue’s record-breaking events, which will include the 2026 FIFA World Cup, combined with Sean McVay’s competitive team, elevate the Rams’ profile on every front. Even after the retirement of defensive superstar Aaron Donald, the Rams recovered from a poor start to the 2024 season, losing four of their first five games, to finish 10‑7 and reach the playoffs, where they narrowly lost in the NFC Wild Card round to the Detroit Lions.
Star quarterback, Matthew Stafford, who recently signed a two-year contract extension, will be without his best weapon, Cooper Kupp, who was released earlier this year and signed with the Seattle Seahawks, but emerging star Puka Nacua and new addition Davante Adams ensure the receiving room still has top-level talent.
Corporate sponsorships, celebrity engagement, and LA’s global entertainment market give the Rams some of the best commercial opportunities around, while strong ticket sales and merchandise revenue reinforce their financial standing. Balancing on-field resilience with a high-profile media presence, the Rams have created a mixture of sporting and business influence on a scale that only one other franchise can better.
1 Dallas Cowboys
$13 billion
Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
The Cowboys remain the NFL’s financial crown jewel, with AT&T Stadium offering an elite entertainment and game-day experience. Jerry Jones’ leadership has turned "America’s Team” into a global brand, with merchandise, sponsorships, and broadcast visibility reaching far beyond the US.
While the recent high-profile trade of defensive end Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers sparked debate, Jones noted in an interview shortly after that the team needed to strengthen its run defence, but many have argued that Parsons was far too good either way to even have him on the trade block in the first place.
The team’s talent core, led by quarterback Dak Prescott, continues to offer the potential for on-field success, and if Prescott can stay healthy and avoid another injury-plagued season, he has the chance to reconnect with CeeDee Lamb and deliver a monster campaign like he did in 2023. Fans remain impatient after nearly 30 years without a Super Bowl victory, and Dallas will face an early test in a difficult opener on the road against reigning champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. After a disappointing 2024 campaign in which the Cowboys finished 7‑10 and missed the playoffs, the team aims to rebound and assert its dominance in the NFC.
The Cowboys’ massive national and international fanbase ensures a steady commercial engine, as the landmark stadium hosts a range of events that further enhance the franchise’s profile. The combination of a storied history, iconic venue, strategic ownership, and media presence makes the Cowboys the standard against which all other NFL franchises are measured, blending historical sporting dominance with unparalleled business influence.