The NFL’s Most Valuable Teams 2026

The Seattle Seahawks recently changed hands for $9.6 billion, setting a league record for the most expensive NFL purchase. This price tag is surprising, as the franchise is now the 14th most valuable in the league, despite being worth nearly $10 billion. In fact, 10 clubs—nearly a third of the 32-team NFL—have enterprise values exceeding $10 billion. The Dallas Cowboys lead the pack with a $17 billion valuation, followed by the Cincinnati Bengals at $8 billion and the Falcons at $10.1 billion.

The league average team value stands at $9.5 billion, a 34% increase from 2025's $7.1 billion, marking the second-largest jump since Forbes began publishing franchise valuations in 1998. This surge in team values can be attributed to the NFL's lucrative media rights deals, which ensure every franchise makes money. The salary cap this year is set at $301 million, and teams also generate significant revenue from broadcasting.

Facility upgrades are expected to further boost team revenues, with at least one club opening a new or significantly renovated stadium each year through 2031. This momentum has been reflected in recent high-profile transactions, including the Seahawks sale and minority stakes in teams like the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons.

These deals have helped reshape the market for NFL teams, with investors showing a growing appetite for ownership in the league. The average multiple for NFL teams now stands at 13.4x trailing-season revenue, surpassing even the NBA's average of 12.9x.