The Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys’ joint training camp matchup this week featured two of the NFL’s most valuable franchises. Sportico listed the Cowboys and Rams at spots No. 1 and 2, respectively, in its annual NFL team value rankings ahead of the 2026 season.
According to the outlet, Los Angeles is valued at $12.7 billion, well behind the ‘Boys’ league-leading $15.5 billion valuation.
At first glance, it’s surprising that the Patriots aren’t higher on the list. After all, they appeared in the Super Bowl in February, not the Rams, and they also have six Lombardi Trophies to their name. How odd.
Dallas being the most valued NFL franchise for perhaps the umpteenth year in a row is not shocking. When you’re dubbed “America’s Team,” it’s only fair. Gross, I hated every bit of typing out that last sentence. However, it’s true, as the Cowboys are a household name. Even when they lose, they win. They always get a fair share of primetime slots throughout the season, simply because they’re the Cowboys.
While it’s unlikely that any NFL team, including the Rams, can surpass Dallas in team value, the cost of owning a professional football team only continues to rise.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted on social media that the average NFL team is now worth just over $9 billion, which is up from the 2025 average of $7.13 billion. That marks the largest year-over-year gain in franchise value since Sportico launched its valuations in 2020. Just think, the worst team in the league is worth that much. Well, unless I win the lottery or a major lawsuit, my dream of owning an NFL team went down the toilet. It always warms my heart to see the rich getting richer. Ah capitalism!
Like most things associated with the NFL, expect those valuations to continue skyrocketing over the next several years. All you have to do is take a look at the teams that have recently been sold.
The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks are set to be sold for $9.6 billion, pending approval. That would be an NFL record, and should it go through, it would be 59% higher than the previous record of $6.05 billion for the Washington Commanders in 2023. The Rams sold for $750 million in 2010, back when they still played in St. Louis. Between the move to Hollywood and another Lombardi in their trophy case, their value has only grown exponentially over time.
L.A. is unlikely to surpass the Cowboys in team valuation, but it ultimately doesn’t matter. Since returning to Los Angeles, the Rams have transformed themselves into a destination for high-profile players, boosting their championship credibility. Imagine what another Super Bowl win within the next couple of years will do to their team value. Can you say cha-ching, cha-ching?
