NFL Ownership Structure and League Requirements
Every NFL team must have a controlling owner approved by a three-fourths majority of league owners. The NFL constitution requires a minimum 30% personal equity stake for control, and ownership groups must pass a rigorous financial and background review. Forbes tracks the league's 32 ownership groups and updates valuations annually based on public filings and deals reported on Forbes.
Most teams operate as limited liability companies or holding entities, with the controlling owner serving as managing general partner. Ownership structures often include family trusts, investment firms, and local business partners, and major transactions require league approval and public disclosure where applicable on SEC filings.
Top NFL Owners by Net Worth and Franchise Value
The most valuable NFL franchises are controlled by billionaires with diversified business portfolios. The Washington Commanders sold to a group led by Josh Harris for a record $6.05 billion in 2023, while the Denver Broncos were purchased by the Walton-Penner group for $4.65 billion in 2022, according to Forbes.
Other high-value ownership groups include the New York Giants and New York Jets, controlled jointly by the Mara and Tisch families, and the Dallas Cowboys controlled by Jerry Jones, whose franchise is consistently ranked among the most profitable in sports. The Los Angeles Rams are controlled by Stan Kroenke, and the Las Vegas Raiders are controlled by Mark Davis, with both franchises valued above $5 billion in recent Forbes estimates.
Full List of NFL Team Owners and Control Entities
The league's 32 franchises span 22 states and include controlling owners such as Arthur Blank (Atlanta Falcons), Arthur Jones and the Jones family (Baltimore Ravens), and George McCaskey and the McCaskey family (Chicago Bears). The Cincinnati Bengals are controlled by Mike Brown, the Cleveland Browns by Jimmy Haslam, and the Houston Texans by Cal McNair.
Other controlling owners include John Henry and the Henry family (New England Patriots), George Kaiser and the Kaiser family (Cincinnati Bengals via operating entity), and Shahid Khan (Jacksonville Jaguars). The Miami Dolphins are controlled by Stephen Ross, the Minnesota Vikings by Zygi Wilf, and the New Orleans Saints by Gayle Benson, with franchise details and ownership changes tracked by Forbes and public filings where available on SEC pages.