Mark Davis, Oakland Raiders / Reported net worth: $500 million
There are only nine NFL owners who aren’t multi-billionaires, and Davis is one of two to not be in the 10-digit net worth club.
Davis inherited the franchise from his late father, Al, and will be shepherding a move to Las Vegas in the coming years. The bold move to bring back head coach Jon Gruden on a decade-long contract is a watershed moment in Davis’ ownership tenure.
Mike Brown, Cincinnati Bengals / Reported net worth: $925 million
Also serving as the team’s general manager, Brown is a more hands-on owner than most. His father, Paul, co-founded the Bengals, and while the 82-year-old president has fielded criticism over the years, Cincinnati has enjoyed a renaissance this decade.
Brown may need to fire coach Marvin Lewis and find a superior quarterback to Andy Dalton for the Bengals to be a playoff winner. They’re 0-7 under Lewis in the postseason, and Dalton has a 57.8 passer rating over four playoff starts.
Pat Bowlen and family trust, Denver Broncos / Forbes net worth: $1 billion
Despite the ranking on this list, ownership in Denver has done an exceptional job, delivering multiple championships and making the Broncos Forbes‘ No. 23 highest-valued sports franchise in the world as of this year at $2.6 billion.
Mike Klis of 9NEWS reported in June that 28-year-old Brittany Bowlen, Pat Bowlen’s daughter, is the front-runner to be the successor as controlling owner. The elder Bowlen resigned control in July 2014 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Art Rooney II and family, Pittsburgh Steelers / Forbes net worth: $1.2 billion
The Rooney family has a rich legacy in Pittsburgh, overseeing a fantastic franchise that’s won six Super Bowls and produced numerous Hall of Famers, including founder Art Rooney.
With a stranglehold on the AFC North in recent years, there’s a sense the Steelers are due to hoist the Lombardi Trophy again within the next season or two.
Virginia Halas McCaskey and family, Chicago Bears / Forbes net worth: $1.3 billion
Bears headquarters is named Halas Hall. The road where the Pro Football Hall of Fame is located is named George Halas Drive. Halas co-founded the NFL, founded the Bears franchise, and played for, owned and coached the team for a time.
McCaskey is part of that heritage, the sister of George Halas Jr., and is still principal owner at the ripe age of 95. Chicago has retooled its roster and hired a new coach in Matt Nagy to kick off a hopefully prosperous new era in 2018.
Amy Adams Strunk and Adams family, Tennessee Titans / Forbes worth: $1.3 billion
Strunk is the controlling owner with a one-third stake in the Titans, helping to take over from her late father Bud Adams in 2013.
A rich legacy follows the former Houston Oilers, who were a founding member of the American Football League under Adams’ leadership.
This franchise is still in search of its first NFL championship but have a promising young quarterback in Marcus Mariota who guided the Titans to a playoff win this past season.
Martha Ford, Detroit Lions / Forbes net worth: $1.4 billion
Heiress to the automotive family fortune, Ford cleaned out Lions leadership in the front office in 2014 when she took over to reboot the franchise, which has frequently struggled over the years.
The Lions just finished off a third winning season in a four-year span for the first time since 1997. Their two most decorated players in those decades, running back Barry Sanders and receiver Calvin Johnson, retired while still in their primes.
New head coach Matt Patricia and quarterback Matthew Stafford will try to push the team closer to its first Super Bowl appearance in 2018 and beyond.
Bill Bidwill, Arizona Cardinals / Forbes net worth: $1.4 billion
The Bidwill family has owned the Cardinals since 1932, and Forbes valued the franchise at $2.15 billion this year.
Arizona has one Super Bowl appearance and five playoff berths since moving to the desert approximately three decades ago. Rookie first-round pick Josh Rosen will soon likely emerge as a franchise quarterback and boost the team’s profile.
John Mara & Steve Tisch, New York Giants / Combined reported net worth: $1.7 billion
Forbes currently has Tisch at $1.2 billion today, and Mara was at $500 million by ESPN in 2015. Both of their fathers used to own the Giants, and the franchise continues to thrive as one of the strongest brands in professional sports.
Mara joined the Giants in the 1980s as his family has been connected with NFL history since its inception, while Tisch had a strong career as a film producer before shifting more focus to football.
The Giants tied with the Los Angeles Lakers as the eighth highest-valued sports franchise this year, per Forbes, at $3.3 billion.
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