Forbes has unveiled its annual franchise valuations for all 32 NFL teams, with the Dallas Cowboys predictably sitting atop the list. According to Forbes, the Cowboys are worth $3.2 billion, making the club the second-most valuable sports franchise in the world, behind only soccer’s Real Madrid ($3.4 billion). Overall, the average NFL team is worth $1.43 billion, according to Forbes, up an impressive 23% from a year ago. That’s the most significant annual increase since 1999.
While Forbes’ figures shouldn’t be taken as gospel, they at least provide a general idea of the league’s most valuable and least valuable franchises, as well as a baseline for the sort of money owners would be seeking if they decided to sell their franchises. Here’s the complete list of Forbes’ franchise values:
- Dallas Cowboys: $3.2 billion
- New England Patriots: $2.6 billion
- Washington Redskins: $2.4 billion
- New York Giants: $2.1 billion
- Houston Texans: $1.85 billion
- New York Jets: $1.8 billion
- Philadelphia Eagles: $1.75 billion
- Chicago Bears: $1.7 billion
- San Francisco 49ers: $1.6 billion
- Baltimore Ravens: $1.5 billion
- Denver Broncos: $1.45 billion
- Indianapolis Colts: $1.4 billion
- Green Bay Packers: $1.375 billion
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $1.35 billion
- Seattle Seahawks: $1.33 billion
- Miami Dolphins: $1.3 billion
- Carolina Panthers: $1.25 billion
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $1.225 billion
- Tennessee Titans: $1.16 billion
- Minnesota Vikings: $1.15 billion
- Atlanta Falcons: $1.125 billion
- Cleveland Browns: $1.12 billion
- New Orleans Saints: $1.11 billion
- Kansas City Chiefs: $1.1 billion
- Arizona Cardinals: $1 billion
- San Diego Chargers: $995MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $990MM
- Oakland Raiders: $970MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $965MM
- Detroit Lions: $960MM
- Buffalo Bills: $935MM
- St. Louis Rams: $930MM
I understand these rankings are based on sponsorship deals and premium seating rights more than anything, but who earth would spend that much more for the Washington football team as they would for the Bears or 49ers?