NFL Leads in Value and Profitability
The National Football League (NFL) has strengthened its position as the most valuable and profitable sports league globally, with the average franchise valued at $7.65 billion, marking an 18% increase from the previous year, as reported by CNBC’s Official NFL Team Valuations 2025.
Growing Franchise Values
According to CNBC, eleven NFL teams are now valued at $8 billion or more, a notable rise from just two teams last year. Major market franchises with high stadium revenues dominate this list.
Top Team Valuations
The Dallas Cowboys lead as the league’s most valuable team at $12.5 billion, generating the highest revenue in the NFL at $1.27 billion. In 2024, they earned around $300 million in sponsorship revenue alone, significantly more than any other team.
Average Revenue and Profit Growth
In the 2024 season, the average team revenue reached $687 million, a 7.3% increase from the prior year, driven mainly by national revenue sources like television and sponsorship deals, averaging $433 million per team. The average earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) grew by 7.9% to $137 million.
Media Rights and Content Value
The NFL’s financial resilience is reinforced by its widespread popularity. NFL games made up 72 of the top 100 most-watched U.S. broadcasts in 2024. Media rights deals are now generating around $12.4 billion annually.
Investment and Ownership Insights
Team owners have begun capitalizing on the NFL’s financial strength by selling stakes to limited partners. Despite only a few private equity investments, the rule change allowing such deals has significantly influenced valuations and investor interest. Notably, Arctos Partners and Ares Management have made minority stake acquisitions in various teams.
Record Valuations and Future Expectations
The Chicago Bears saw the most significant valuation increase this year, up by 39.1% to $8.9 billion. There are expectations for more minority stake sales as private equity firms remain keen on investing in NFL teams amid rising valuations.
