The rich get richer, and few entities are cloaked in as much money as the NFL.
The Shield is the apple of other American sports leagues’ eye. Its ability to turn a profit — often disproportional to its players and their interests as laborers — has captivated some and frightened others. Regardless of where you stand on its business practices, the league is as strong as ever. On Monday, that belief was crystallized.
The NFL netted roughly $13 billion in revenue in 2023, according to Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen. That represents a roughly eight percent improvement on last year’s figures, widely reported to be around $12 billion, which was dispersed at a 52-48 split between owners and players, per the current collective bargaining agreement.
The league’s ever-flowing cash supply comes from a litany of different sources — sponsorships represent much of the total, but not all of it. The league also has a slew of affiliated enterprises connected with the NFL brand, including NFL Properties, NFL International, and NFL Enterprises, all of whom garner funds that feed into the league’s orbit. That’s not to mention the sizable check the NFL team receives every season when it grants media rights to high-paying customers like NBC and ESPN.
Such financial stability has been a godsend for the league’s 32 owners, each of whom reportedly received $400 million checks of their own from the league office this year.
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The NFL’s economic policy has proven profitable in recent years, with a relatively hard salary cap — this year, it sits at $255.4 million — limiting owner spending habits. Player contracts often come chocked full of incentives and conditions, another way The Shield and its teams prevent players from securing true maximum value for themselves.
Couple that with the hulking checks each franchise receives from their corporate overseers — one which eclipses the league’s salary cap by a sizable amount — and it’s little surprise why every NFL organization is valued at least $4 billion.
How much does the NFL earn per year?
In 2023, the NFL secured around $13 billion in revenue. Sponsorships with blue-chip brands like Gatorade, Visa, Campbell Soup, and FedEx have played a big role, offering the league a platform cushioned not by productive play, but rather by money.
There are no signs of the league changing its approach, either. According to Sportico, projections indicate that the $400 million check each team receives prior to this year will increase year-over-year until it reaches around $800 million. It’s increased by about 115 percent over the past decade or so.
It’s clear to NFL teams, executives, and officials alike that green is the warmest color. Based on the numbers surrounding the NFL’s most recent investment, it seems that perspective will only continue to exist, as well.