Operating income of NFL franchises 2022

The Dallas Cowboys had an operating income of 504 million U.S. dollars in 2022, the largest of all the NFL teams and double the figure of the team ranked second, the New York Giants. At the other end of the rankings, the Detroit Lions had the smallest operating income in the league at 51 million U.S. dollars.

The Cowboys top the rich list

Operating income refers to how much of a team’s revenue will become profit after deducting operating expenses, such as wages. In 2022, the average operating income of an NFL team was around 126 million U.S. dollars, which was significantly less than the figure recorded by the Cowboys. Operating income wasn't the only financial metric topped by the team from Texas; in 2022 the Cowboys ranked as both the most valuable team in the NFL and the most valuable sports team worldwide – despite not playing in the Super Bowl since the 1995 season.

How did the current Super Bowl champions perform?

One team that has featured regularly in recent Super Bowls is the current champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite winning two of the last four Super Bowls as of 2023, the Chiefs had a relatively low operating income when held up to their recent on-pitch successes. The Chiefs also had one of the lowest payrolls among NFL teams in 2022, having spent 269 million U.S. dollars on player expenses. Nevertheless, there has been strong growth in terms of the Kansas City Chiefs' franchise value, with the figure more than doubling between 2018 and 2023; a trajectory the Chiefs will hope to maintain.