NFL ownership rankings entering the 2025 season

USA Today

01-06-2025

NFL ownership rankings entering the 2025 season
The teams on the field determine whether the seasons are success. However, organizations can only do what their bosses allow moves that are made and money to be spent. Because a team wins games and titles doesn't always correlate with great ownership. In many cases, the better the owner, the more likely a team is to succeed. However, there are owners who do their all to make the team and organization thrive but don't see the results on the field. How do the owners rank?
You don't have to delve too deep into the team's history and moves to understand how Gang Green finishes on the bottom. This team's brass is a merry-go-round, and that spin comes from one person: Owner Woody Johnson.
In this case, an owner's personality and meddling definitely impact the product on the field. The hedge fund owner would be far better off leaving decisions to the front office and coach Dave Canales. Just because you know what to invest in doesn't mean you can recognize football talent.
Many stories about the Cardinals front office and bosses have been less than flattering. That matches their play on the field … until last season.
Giants management needs to find this generation's version of George Young to get the team on the right track. Otherwise, it will continue throwing darts with blindfolds on.
It isn't as easy to win divisions and Super Bowls when you don't have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Owner Robert Kraft already swung and missed with his first hire after Belichick's exit. Will Mike Vrabel be able to restore the Patriots' winning ways? Time will tell.
It is almost impossible to believe the Haslams aren't in the bottom three. There is always an opportunity to sink when it comes to this franchise.
Why is everyone in the picture smiling? Have they not been told part of their responsibilities will be taking part in AEW storylines that the Khan family owns?
25. Tennessee Titans
Decisions have not been favorable in the past few years for the Titans. Their quarterback situation has been awful. Mike Vrabel was shown the exit as the team flopped. It is easy to point fingers at those below, but at some point, ownership makes calls.
24. Dallas Cowboys
When a team hasn't won a championship in decades, and the owner has his hand in every decision, there is only one person to blame: Jerry Jones.
23. Cincinnati Bengals
Mike Brown will never be thought of in NFL history as Paul Brown. The football sometimes falls far from the gridiron.
22. Las Vegas Raiders
In the same thought process as the Browns, Mark Davis will never be another Al Davis.
21. New Orleans Saints
The Saints' success was more a product of Sean Payton and Drew Brees than its ownership.
20. Miami Dolphins
Stephen Ross is no stranger to controversy, and none of those questionable moves helped make Miami a better team.
19. Houston Texans
There have been a couple of successful drafts and seasons, but that won't erase all the bad years and poor choices made in Houston. It's almost a miracle DeMeco Ryans has turned this team around.
18. Chicago Bears
Bears ownership remains in the McCaskey family after the death of matriarch Virginia McCaskey. It will be intriguing to see if ownership gets what it wants in a coach (next up: Ben Johnson). Previous decisions have been flawed. And will they ever settle on a place to build a new stadium, officially?
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Rooneys are old school. Pittsburgh is old school. However, most of the NFL has left that behind and is finding ways to thrive by adapting.
16. Kansas City Chiefs
Questionable decisions regarding some of the talent— and, in one case, a front office person—drops this team despite all of its success on the field. The Hunts have all sorts of money, and should do better job investigating character of players.
15. Seattle Seahawks
When the owner is reviewed as moderately contributing to team culture, the Seahawks land in the middle of the rankings. Moderately isn't good enough to rank better.
Owner Stan Kroenke is another who is viewed as moderately contributing to team culture. Is it because he has too many other teams and investments to worry about? One positive is the Rams' decision to move training facilities to Woodland Hills, California, and build a strong campus. For that to be completed, it will take some time.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ouch. The NFLPA review said the owners weren't committed to investing in facilities. They also haven't sold everyone whose input was sought, and they are interested in building a competitive team. It seems odd, given some of the big contracts they gave out, including Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans.
12. Los Angeles Chargers
Owner Dean Spanos took a lot of grief when the team moved from San Diego to Los Angeles. He has been considered stingy. The Chargers may never be the most popular team in the City of Angels, but Spanos is doing what he can to make his Bolts home.
11. Indianapolis Colts
Owner Jim Irsay, who passed away recently, meant much more to the NFL and the city of Indianapolis than just being a team owner. He will be greatly missed at Colts games and elsewhere.
The Pegulas have done a fine job keeping the Bills atop the AFC East with their decisions. They are doing all they can to get Buffalo a first Super Bowl. Add the new stadium in the mix, and you will have a team in the Top 10 for ownership.
Another team in search of its first Super Bowl ring. Owner Zygi Wilf does good work on and off the field. When will he and the Purple see the fruits of their decisions with a Super Bowl win?
8. Detroit Lions
After decades of failure and futility, owner Sheila Ford Hamp and her team have the Lions going in the right direction. Consider that almost entirely thanks to hiring Dan Campbell.
7. Baltimore Ravens
Steve Biscotti and the Ravens have not been without their share of controversies, Justin Tucker being the latest. However, the action has been taken, and this organization is soundly structured from the top down.
It's a solid organization that rebranded years ago with John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan and has seen success sans a Super Bowl win. Don't be surprised if the Niners rebound from a poor season because ownership and management do what it needs to build and rebuild.
5. Atlanta Falcons
Owner Arthur Blank runs one of the top shops in the league. He tries his best to show loyalty but the results on the field have not been there. Still, one of the classier owners in the league and deserves to see his team thrive.
A team that would have been dead last a couple of years ago under previous ownership -- it was so bad that Washington actually belonged outside the No. 32 spot -- has been invigorated under Josh Harris.
3. Denver Broncos
The Walton-Penner Group has done a strong job since taking ownership of the Broncos. The best move made was hiring Sean Payton as coach.
Jeffrey Lurie is assertive and makes moves with executive Howie Roseman swiftly and decisively. It will be fascinating to see how seeing so many players exit from the Super Bowl champs turns out in 2025.
Who needs a billionaire owner to run a successful NFL team? The Packers and their fans show everyone how it is done the right way.