This week, Forbes released their 19th annual listing of the most valuable teams in the National Football League. According to the magazine, the average NFL team is worth $2.34 billion, 22 percent more than last year and double compared to three years ago, and has an operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $91 million.
The New Orleans Saints ranked 29th out of 32 NFL franchises with an estimated value of $1.75 billion. It was a 16 percent increase over last year, when the team ranked 23rd in the league, with an estimated value of $1.52 billion. Forbes estimates the Saints made $358 million in revenue and $77 million in operating income last year, while they made $322 million and $70 million respectively in 2014.
The magazine referenced the Benson family’s feud over succession of the team for the second year in its explanation of their value estimate.
When Tom Benson bought the Saints in 1985, he paid $70 million.
The NFL’s 32 franchises range in value from the Dallas Cowboys at $4.2 billion to the Buffalo Bills at $1.5 billion. It is the first time each team has been valued at more than $1 billion.
With $620 million in revenue and $270 million in operating income, the Cowboys experienced a 25 percent increase in value compared to 2014.
With $700 million in revenue and $300 million in operating income, the Cowboys experienced a 5 percent increase in value compared to 2014.
The top five valued NFL franchises – Dallas ($4.2 B), New England ($3.4 B), New York Giants ($3.1 B), San Francisco ($3 B), and Washington ($2.95B) – are all large market teams with some of the newest stadiums and marketing opportunities in the league.
The Rams offseason move from St. Louis to Los Angeles, the nation’s second largest media market, increased the value of the team 100 percent to $2.95 billion.
Forbes 2016 NFL Valuations
Forbes’ 19th annual listing of the most valuable teams in the National Football League was released this week. The New Orleans Saints ranked 29th out of 32 NFL franchises with an estimated value of $1.75 billion, 16 percent more than last year. The average NFL team is worth $2.34 billion, a 22 percent increase.
| Rank | Team | Current Value | Value Change | Revenue | Operating Income |
| 1 | Dallas Cowboys | $4.2 B | 5% | $700 M | $300 M |
| 2 | New England Patriots | $3.4 B | 6% | $523 M | $212 M |
| 3 | New York Giants | $3.1 B | 11% | $444 M | $133 M |
| 4 | San Francisco 49ers | $3 B | 11% | $446 M | $154 M |
| 5 | Washington Redskins | $2.95 B | 4% | $447 M | $115 M |
| 6 | Los Angeles Rams | $2.9 B | 100% | $317 M | $67 M |
| 7 | New York Jets | $2.75 B | 6% | $423 M | $102 M |
| 8 | Chicago Bears | $2.7 B | 10% | $385 M | $104 M |
| 9 | Houston Texans | $2.6 B | 4% | $416 M | $129 M |
| 10 | Philadelphia Eagles | $2.5 B | 4% | $407 M | $105 M |
| 11 | Denver Broncos | $2.4 B | 24% | $387 M | $82 M |
| 12 | Miami Dolphins | $2.38 B | 28% | $359 M | $58 M |
| 13 | Green Bay Packers | $2.35 B | 21% | $391 M | $101 M |
| 14 | Baltimore Ravens | $2.3 B | 19% | $378 M | $103 M |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | $2.25 B | 18% | $376 M | $68 M |
| 16 | Seattle Seahawks | $2.23 B | 19% | $377 M | $67 M |
| 17 | Minnesota Vikings | $2.2 B | 38% | $306 M | $51 M |
| 18 | Indianapolis Colts | $2.18 B | 16% | $336 M | $68 M |
| 19 | Atlanta Falcons | $2.13 B | 27% | $336 M | $69 M |
| 20 | Oakland Raiders | $2.1 B | 47% | $301 M | $46 M |
| 21 | San Diego Chargers | $2.08 B | 36% | $344 M | $59 M |
| 22 | Carolina Panthers | $2.08 B | 33% | $362 M | $53 M |
| 23 | Arizona Cardinals | $2.03 B | 31% | $348 M | $95 M |
| 24 | Tennessee Titans | $2 B | 34% | $342 M | $73 M |
| 25 | Jacksonville Jaguars | $1.95 B | 32% | $344 M | $92 M |
| 26 | Kansas City Chiefs | $1.88 B | 23% | $340 M | $62 M |
| 27 | Cleveland Browns | $1.85 B | 23% | $347 M | $53 M |
| 28 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $1.8 B | 19% | $341 M | $75 M |
| 29 | New Orleans Saints | $1.75 B | 16% | $358 M | $77 M |
| 30 | Cincinnati Bengals | $1.68 B | 16% | $329 M | $60 M |
| 31 | Detroit Lions | $1.65 B | 15% | $321 M | $64 M |
| 32 | Buffalo Bills | $1.5 B | 7% | $326 M | $26 M |
