The average operating income of a National Football League (NFL) franchise was roughly million U.S. dollars in 2024. With an operating income of ***Â million U.S. dollars, the Dallas Cowboys topped the list of NFL teams with the highest operating incomes during the 2024 season.
Are NFL franchises set to get even more valuable?
The NFL has reached new heights in terms of average operating income, but figures are forecast to increase further over the next few years. In 2022, Amazon secured exclusive rights to show Thursday Night Football on its streaming services, with an estimated contract valuation of *** billion U.S. dollars. The competitiveness of the sports broadcasting market has increased significantly due to the arrival of modern streaming services. According to figures from 2024, average television viewership of the NFL regular season was at approximately ** million
Show me the money!
Operating income refers to how much of a team’s revenue will become profit after deducting operating expenses, such as wages. Across all the major sporting leagues worldwide, the NFL has historically topped the rankings for total wage spend. Within the league, the NFL team with the highest player expenses during the 2024/25 season was the San Francisco 49ers, with a payroll of approximately *** million U.S. dollars.
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Forbes. (August 28, 2025). Average operating income per franchise in the National Football League (NFL) from 2002 to 2024 (in million U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 26, 2026, from /statistics/193482/nfl-franchises-average-operating-income-since-2005/
Forbes. "Average operating income per franchise in the National Football League (NFL) from 2002 to 2024 (in million U.S. dollars)." Chart. August 28, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 26, 2026. /statistics/193482/nfl-franchises-average-operating-income-since-2005/
Forbes. (2025). Average operating income per franchise in the National Football League (NFL) from 2002 to 2024 (in million U.S. dollars). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 26, 2026. /statistics/193482/nfl-franchises-average-operating-income-since-2005/
Forbes. "Average Operating Income per Franchise in The National Football League (Nfl) from 2002 to 2024 (in Million U.S. Dollars)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 28 Aug 2025, /statistics/193482/nfl-franchises-average-operating-income-since-2005/
Forbes, Average operating income per franchise in the National Football League (NFL) from 2002 to 2024 (in million U.S. dollars) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/193482/nfl-franchises-average-operating-income-since-2005/ (last visited July 26, 2026)
Average operating income per franchise in the National Football League (NFL) from 2002 to 2024 (in million U.S. dollars) [Graph], Forbes, August 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/193482/nfl-franchises-average-operating-income-since-2005/
