How much are Bengals, Chiefs, 49ers and Rams worth? A look at NFL's most valuable teams
The Los Angeles Rams are the most valuable of the four NFL franchises to have reached this weekend's AFC and NFC Championship Games.
We’re closer and closer to finding out who’ll be facing who at Super Bowl LVI. On Sunday, the two spots at the showpiece event are up for grabs in the Conference Championships, as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC and the Cincinnati Bengals meet the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC.
Cowboys the NFL's most valuable team as wait for success goes on
In August, Forbes released its annual list of the most valuable teams in the NFL, and what is noticeable is that none of the three teams that lead the prestigious finance magazine’s ranking will be involved this weekend.
Indeed, only one of the trio - the New England Patriots - has made it to a Championship Game in the last 10 years.
With a total value of $6.5 billion, the Dallas Cowboys top Forbes’ list for the 15th year running. The Cowboys generated the highest annual revenue ($800m) and operating income ($280m) in the league. Dallas are followed by the Patriots, who are valued at $5bn, and the top three is completed by the New York Giants ($4.85bn).
The Giants’ last appearance in a Championship Game came in the 2011 season, while the Cowboys haven’t battled it out for the conference crown since 1995.
NFL's 10 most valuable teams
| Team | Value (per Forbes) | |
| 1. | Dallas Cowboys | $6.5bn |
| 2. | New England Patriots | $5bn |
| 3. | New York Giants | $4.85bn |
| 4. | Los Angeles Rams | $4.8bn |
| 5. | Washington Football Team | $4.2bn |
| 6. | San Francisco 49ers | $4.175bn |
| 7. | Chicago Bears | $4.075bn |
| 8. | New York Jets | $4.05bn |
| 9. | Philadelphia Eagles | $3.8bn |
| 10. | Denver Broncos | $3.75bn |
How much are this year's Conference Championships teams worth?
Of the four teams who have reached this season’s Conference Championships, the Rams are the most valuable, according to Forbes. The Los Angeles franchise, which is owned by real-estate magnate Stan Kroenke, sits fourth on the list, with a value of $4.8bn.
The Rams are closely followed by NFC Championship Game opponents the 49ers, who lie sixth with an estimated worth of $4.175bn.
Meanwhile, the two teams due to battle it out in the AFC Championship Game both find themselves somewhat lower down Forbes’ list. The Chiefs’ value is estimated at $2.93bn, leaving the franchise in 22nd place, while the Bengals ($2.275bn) are 31st out of 32.
Conference Championships: when and where?
In the 2021/22 AFC Championship Game, the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday 30 January 2022, with the game scheduled to start at 3:05pm ET.
The Chiefs are featuring in the fixture for the fourth season in a row and are out to reach their third straight Super Bowl, while the Bengals are making their first appearance in the AFC Championship Game since the 1988 campaign.
Television viewers in the US will be able to watch the Bengals vs Chiefs clash on CBS.
The AFC title decider will be followed by the NFC Championship Game, which sees the Los Angeles Rams host the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium - also the venue for Super Bowl LVI - at 6:40pm ET on Sunday.
Against 2019 NFC champions San Francisco, 2018 conference winners the Rams are looking to become only the second franchise in NFL history to play in a Super Bowl at its home stadium.
Fox has the TV rights to the 49ers vs Rams game in the US.