NFL Team Purchase Prices: What Every Franchise Cost (1920-2026)
$305B+
Combined Value (All 32 Teams)
$9.5BAverage Team Value (Forbes, Sept. 2026)
$100League Franchise Fee (Decatur Staleys, 1920)
$9.61BRecord Sale Price (Seahawks, 2026)
$17BMost Valuable Team (Cowboys, Forbes, September 2026)
01NFL Ownership: From $100 to $17 Billion
Most Valuable Team: Dallas Cowboys at $17 billion (Forbes, September 2026) — No. 1 in the NFL for the 20th straight year
Smallest Starting Price: The Bears began in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys, a team sponsored by the Staley Starch Company, and the league franchise fee was $100. The company gave George Halas the team in 1921, along with $5,000 and permission to move it to Chicago. The Bears are now worth $9.7 billion (Forbes, September 2026)
$10 Billion Club: Ten teams are worth $10 billion or more in Forbes' September 2026 valuations: Cowboys ($17B), Rams ($13.5B), Giants ($12B), Patriots ($10.6B), 49ers ($10.5B), Dolphins ($10.4B), Jets ($10.35B), Raiders ($10.3B), Eagles ($10.25B) and Falcons ($10.1B)
Unique Ownership: Green Bay Packers are the only publicly-owned, non-profit team with 537,000+ shareholders
Longest Family Ownership: Chicago Bears (Halas/McCaskey family since 1921) - 105 years as of 2026
02Current Valuations vs. Original Purchase Price
Top 15 Most Valuable NFL Teams (Forbes, September 2026)
Top 3Next 12
Valuation, billions of US dollars (Forbes NFL Valuations, September 9, 2026).
03Biggest Value Increases (% Over Purchase Price)
Largest Increases, Current Value vs. Purchase Price (Thousands %)
Percent increase (thousands %) of the current Forbes value (September 2026) over the original purchase price. This is a valuation multiple, not an investment return: it leaves out operating profits and losses, money owners later put into the team or its stadium, debt, and later changes in ownership share. Some starting prices are league franchise fees rather than purchases from a previous owner.
Chris O'Brien founds Chicago Cardinals as charter NFL member
1929
Dr. David Jones purchases team
1932
Charles Bidwill purchases team for $50,000
1947
Charles dies; widow Violet Bidwill inherits team
1960
Team moves to St. Louis
1962
Violet dies; sons Bill and Charles Jr. inherit team
1972
Bill Bidwill buys out brother for $6 million
1988
Team moves to Arizona
2019
Bill dies; son Michael Bidwill becomes owner. Current value (Forbes, September 2026): $8.06 billion
Atlanta Falcons — Insurance Executive to Home Depot Founder
1965
Rankin Smith Sr. pays $8.5 million expansion fee
1997
Rankin Smith Sr. dies; son Taylor Smith inherits team
2002
Arthur Blank (Home Depot co-founder) purchases for $545 million
2017
Mercedes-Benz Stadium opens ($1.6 billion)
2026
Blank still owns team. Current value: $10.1 billion
Baltimore Ravens — Born from Cleveland Browns Relocation
1996
Art Modell moves Cleveland Browns to Baltimore; team becomes Ravens
2000
Steve Bisciotti purchases 49% stake for $275 million
2004
Bisciotti buys remaining 51% for $325 million. Total: $600 million
2026
Bisciotti still owns team. Current value: $8.2 billion
Buffalo Bills — AFL Original to Pegula Era
1959
Ralph Wilson founds Bills as AFL charter member for $25,000
1970
AFL-NFL merger; Bills join NFL
2014
Wilson dies at 95; estate sells to Terry & Kim Pegula for $1.4 billion
2024
NFL approves (December 11) the sale of non-controlling limited-partner stakes, reported at about 20.6% of the team, to 10 new investors: private investment firm Arctos plus nine individuals, including Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady
2026
Pegulas retain majority. Current value: $8.15 billion
Carolina Panthers — Richardson to Tepper
1993
Jerry Richardson awarded expansion franchise for $206 million
1995
Panthers begin play
2018
David Tepper purchases for $2.275 billion (then-record)
2026
Tepper still owns team. Current value: $8.1 billion
Chicago Bears — Longest Family Ownership in NFL
1920
Staley Starch Company sponsors the Decatur Staleys, with George Halas running the team; the league franchise fee is $100
1921
The company gives Halas the team, $5,000 and permission to move to Chicago; Halas adds Dutch Sternaman as co-owner
1922
Team renamed Chicago Bears
1933
Halas buys out Sternaman, becomes sole owner
1983
Halas dies; daughter Virginia McCaskey inherits team
2025
Virginia passes at 102; McCaskey family retains ~77.5%. Current value (Forbes, September 2026): $9.7 billion
Cincinnati Bengals — Paul Brown's Second Team
1967
Paul Brown (fired by Cleveland in 1962) awarded AFL expansion franchise for $7.5 million
1968
Bengals begin play
1991
Paul Brown dies; son Mike Brown inherits team
2026
Brown family still owns team. Current value: $8 billion
Cleveland Browns — Reborn After Modell Departure
1999
NFL awards expansion franchise to Al Lerner for $530 million
2002
Al Lerner dies; son Randy Lerner inherits team
2012
Jimmy Haslam purchases for $987 million
2026
Jimmy & Dee Haslam still own team; Arctos bought about 3% at a $9 billion valuation in May 2026. Current value: $9 billion
Dallas Cowboys — World's Most Valuable Sports Franchise
1960
Clint Murchison Jr. pays $600,000 expansion fee
1984
H.R. "Bum" Bright purchases for $85 million
1989
Jerry Jones purchases for $140 million
2026
Jones still owns team. Current value: $17 billion (12,043% above the 1989 purchase price)
Denver Broncos — Walmart Heir's Record Purchase
1960
Bob Howsam pays $25,000 AFL franchise fee
1984
Pat Bowlen purchases majority stake for $78 million
2022
Walton-Penner Group purchases for $4.65 billion. Lewis Hamilton joins as minority owner.
2026
Current value: $9.4 billion
Detroit Lions — Ford Family Dynasty
1934
G.A. Richards purchases Portsmouth Spartans for $8,000, moves to Detroit
1964
William Clay Ford (Ford Motor heir) purchases for $4.5 million
2014
William Clay Ford dies; wife Martha becomes owner
2020
Sheila Ford Hamp (daughter) becomes principal owner. Current value (Forbes, September 2026): $8.04 billion
Green Bay Packers — Only Publicly-Owned NFL Team
1919
Curly Lambeau founds team with $500 from Indian Packing Company
1923
Reorganizes as non-profit; first stock sale at $5/share
1935-2021
Additional stock sales in 1935, 1950, 1997, 2011, 2021
2026
537,000+ shareholders own 5.2 million shares. Current value: $8.6 billion
Houston Texans — NFL's Newest Franchise
1999
Bob McNair awarded expansion franchise for $700 million (record fee)
2002
Texans begin play
2018
Bob McNair dies; Janice McNair and son Cal take control
2026
McNair family still owns team. Current value: $9.65 billion
Indianapolis Colts — The Midnight Move
1953
Baltimore group purchases defunct Dallas Texans for $200,000
1972
Robert Irsay trades LA Rams for Colts; effective price $15 million
1984
Irsay moves team to Indianapolis overnight via Mayflower trucks
1997
Robert dies; son Jim Irsay becomes owner
2025
Jim Irsay dies May 21, 2025; ownership passes to his daughters Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson. Current value (Forbes, September 2026): $8.08 billion
Jacksonville Jaguars — Weaver to Khan
1993
Wayne Weaver awarded expansion franchise for $206 million
1995
Jaguars begin play
2012
Shahid Khan (auto parts billionaire) purchases for $770 million
2026
Khan still owns team. Current value: $8.05 billion
Kansas City Chiefs — Hunt Family Legacy
1960
Lamar Hunt founds Dallas Texans as AFL charter member for $25,000
1963
Team moves to Kansas City, renamed Chiefs
2006
Lamar Hunt dies; son Clark Hunt becomes chairman
2026
Hunt family still owns team (66 years). Current value: $8.8 billion
Las Vegas Raiders — Al Davis's Rebel Franchise
1960
AFL awards Oakland franchise
1966
Al Davis purchases 10% for $18,000; becomes managing general partner
2011
Al Davis dies; son Mark Davis inherits team
2020
Team moves to Las Vegas
2023
Tom Brady approved as minority owner. Two minority deals in spring 2026 reportedly valued the team at $9.9 billion and $11 billion. Current value (Forbes, September 2026): $10.3 billion
Los Angeles Chargers — Spanos Family Control
1960
Barron Hilton founds LA Chargers as AFL charter member
1961
Team moves to San Diego
1984
Alex Spanos purchases majority stake for $70 million
2017
Team returns to Los Angeles
2018
Alex dies; son Dean Spanos becomes owner. Current value (Forbes, September 2026): $8.3 billion
Los Angeles Rams — SoFi Stadium Transforms Value
1946
Cleveland Rams move to Los Angeles
1972
Carroll Rosenbloom acquires team in trade with Robert Irsay
1995
Georgia Frontiere moves team to St. Louis
2010
Stan Kroenke purchases majority stake for $750 million
2016
Team returns to Los Angeles
2020
SoFi Stadium opens ($5 billion). Current value (Forbes, September 2026): $13.5 billion
Miami Dolphins — Robbie to Ross
1966
Joe Robbie awarded AFL expansion franchise for $7.5 million
1994
Wayne Huizenga purchases for $168 million
2009
Stephen Ross purchases 95% stake for $1.1 billion
2026
Ross still owns team; Ares Management (10%) and Joe Tsai (3%) bought in at an $8.1 billion valuation (approved December 11, 2024), and a stake in the team's holding company reportedly sold at a $12.5 billion valuation in March 2026. Current value: $10.4 billion
Minnesota Vikings — Winter to Wilf
1961
Max Winter group awarded expansion franchise for $600,000
1991
Red McCombs purchases for $250 million
2005
Zygi Wilf purchases for $600 million
2026
Wilf family still owns team. Current value: $8.25 billion
New England Patriots — Kraft's "Overpayment" Pays Off
1960
Billy Sullivan founds Boston Patriots for $25,000
1988
Victor Kiam purchases for $83 million
1994
Robert Kraft purchases for $172 million (considered overpayment)
2026
Kraft still owns team; an 8% stake (5% to Dean Metropoulos, 3% to Sixth Street) was approved in October 2025 at a $9 billion valuation. Current value: $10.6 billion
New Orleans Saints — Benson Family Control
1967
John Mecom Jr. awarded expansion franchise for $8.5 million
1985
Tom Benson purchases for $70 million
2018
Tom dies; wife Gayle Benson inherits team
2026
Gayle Benson still owns team. Current value: $8.02 billion
New York Giants — Mara Family Since 1925
1925
Tim Mara pays $500 for New York franchise
1959
Tim dies; sons Wellington and Jack inherit team
1991
Bob Tisch purchases 50% from Jack Mara estate
2026
Mara & Tisch families share ownership (100 years of Mara); a 10% stake was sold to Julia Koch and family at about a $10.3 billion valuation (approved October 2025). Current value: $12 billion
New York Jets — Titans to Johnson
1960
Harry Wismer founds New York Titans as AFL charter member
1963
Sonny Werblin-led group purchases for $1 million, renames Jets
2000
Woody Johnson (Johnson & Johnson heir) purchases for $635 million
2026
Johnson still owns team. Current value: $10.35 billion
Philadelphia Eagles — Lurie's Hollywood Fortune
1933
Bert Bell and Lud Wray purchase franchise for $2,500
1969
Leonard Tose purchases for $16 million
1985
Norman Braman purchases for $65 million
1994
Jeffrey Lurie purchases for $185 million
2026
Lurie still owns team; 8% sold to two family investment groups at an $8.3 billion valuation (approved December 11, 2024). Current value: $10.25 billion
Pittsburgh Steelers — Rooney Family Since 1933
1933
Art Rooney pays $2,500 for Pittsburgh franchise
1988
Art Rooney dies; son Dan Rooney becomes chairman
2017
Dan dies; son Art Rooney II becomes president/owner
2026
Rooney family still owns team (93 years). Current value: $8.7 billion
San Francisco 49ers — DeBartolo/York Dynasty
1946
Tony Morabito founds 49ers in AAFC
1977
Eddie DeBartolo Jr. purchases for $13 million
2000
DeBartolo suspended; sister Denise DeBartolo York takes control
2026
Jed York (son) is CEO; DeBartolo/York family owns team; Pete Briger Jr. and family bought about 3.2% at roughly an $8.6 billion valuation (approved October 2025). Current value: $10.5 billion
Seattle Seahawks — Paul Allen's Microsoft Fortune to a Record Sale
1976
Lloyd Nordstrom group awarded expansion franchise for $16 million
1988
Ken Behring purchases for $79 million
1997
Paul Allen (Microsoft co-founder) purchases for $194 million
2018
Paul Allen dies; sister Jody Allen manages through trust
2026
Paul Allen's estate sells the team to Vinod Khosla and family for $9.612 billion, an NFL record; owners approved the sale unanimously on August 26, 2026, and it closed in early September 2026. Current value (Forbes, September 2026): $9.6 billion
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Culverhouse to Glazers
1976
Hugh Culverhouse awarded expansion franchise for $16 million
1995
Malcolm Glazer purchases for $192 million
2014
Malcolm dies; sons Bryan, Joel, Edward become co-chairmen
2026
Glazer family still owns team (also own Manchester United). Current value: $9.1 billion
Tennessee Titans — Adams Family Legacy
1960
Bud Adams founds Houston Oilers for $25,000
1997
Team moves to Tennessee
1999
Team renamed Tennessee Titans
2013
Bud Adams dies
2015
Amy Adams Strunk (daughter) becomes controlling owner. Current value (Forbes, September 2026): $8.5 billion
Washington Commanders — Record NFL Sale Price (2023)
1932
George Preston Marshall pays $100 for Boston Braves franchise
1937
Team moves to Washington, renamed Redskins
1969
Jack Kent Cooke purchases for $10.4 million
1999
Daniel Snyder purchases for $800 million
2023
Josh Harris Group purchases for $6.05 billion (NFL record until the 2026 Seahawks sale). Current value (Forbes, September 2026): $9.8 billion
06Fun Facts & Records
Biggest Bargain
The Bears started with a $100 league franchise fee in 1920, and Halas took the team over in 1921 without paying for it. They are worth $9.7 billion (Forbes, September 2026). That is a change in value, not an investment return - it leaves out a century of operating profits and losses and the money put into the team along the way.
Best Modern Investment
Jerry Jones paid $140 million for the Cowboys in 1989. His team is worth $17 billion (Forbes, September 2026) - an increase of over 12,000% in value.
Stadium Impact
The Rams' move to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles helped boost their value from $700 million (2010) to $13.5 billion (Forbes, September 2026).
Family Dynasties
Several teams have never been sold: Bears (Halas/McCaskey), Steelers (Rooney), Giants (Mara), Cardinals (Bidwill), and Lions (Ford).
Smallest Market, Big Value
Green Bay is the smallest media market in US pro sports, yet the Packers are worth $8.6 billion (Forbes, September 2026) thanks to revenue sharing.
Private Equity Era
In 2024, the NFL allowed institutional investors for the first time. This has created a "valuation floor" for all teams.
07NFL Team Values by Division
Average Team Value by Division
AFCNFC
Average Valuation (Billions USD)
08Sources and Notes
Data Sources: Forbes NFL Valuations (September 9, 2026), Sportico Team Values, ESPN, Pro Football Reference, official team histories, and verified historical records.
Inflation Adjustments: All historical prices adjusted to 2025 dollars using Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI data.
Note: "Original Purchase" reflects the price paid by the current ownership family/group or their predecessors when they first acquired controlling interest. Some franchises (like the Packers) have unique ownership structures.
Last Updated: October 19, 2026
Corrections and Updates
Date
What changed
October 25, 2026
Bears $100 corrected to the 1920 league franchise fee (Staley Starch Co. gave Halas the team in 1921); Bears purchase-return claim and S&P comparison removed; Bills 2024 limited partners identified as Arctos plus nine individuals.
Every correction to a published figure on this site is logged on Sources and Methods.
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Dave Manuel, “NFL Team Values & Purchase Prices: All 32 Franchises Ranked,” DaveManuel.com, updated October 26, 2026, https://www.davemanuel.com/nfl-team-purchase-prices-ownership-history.php (accessed October 30, 2026).
Manuel, D. (2026). NFL Team Values & Purchase Prices: All 32 Franchises Ranked. DaveManuel.com. Retrieved October 30, 2026, from https://www.davemanuel.com/nfl-team-purchase-prices-ownership-history.php
