This article will focus on the NFL and will give answers to your question ‘Is The NFL Private Company?’.
There are no other sports that can possess the crowd as much as American Football. The rugged and rough stature combined with the celebrity status of the players has evolved the sport into a huge success.
The sport is in a league of its own, that league is National Football League, more famously known as NFL. With over 32 teams, spread out in 22 states, the sport is not only famous nationally but often receives worldwide acclaim as well.
With so much fame and sponsorships, you may ask yourself “Who Owns NFL?” or is it a Privately Owned Company? We aim to solve all your queries through this article.
Is The NFL Private Company?
You may be wondering, is NFL a privately owned company? Is it owned by one single individual? The simple answer to the above question is no. The National Football League isn’t a company that has large amounts of shareholders and chairpersons, instead, they are a trade association, which consists of individual franchises and teams. The team owners act as the owners of the NFL, in case of any changes in the league, every team gets an equal vote.
Only one out of the 32 teams is owned by shareholders. The team is the Green Bay Packers, which are owned by shareholders as a non-profit entity.
What is NFL?
National Football League (NFL) is one of the most successful sports leagues in the history of the United States. Often called one of the most prestigious leagues in the world, it promotes and celebrates great football players and sheds light on up-and-coming promising talent as well. With a history of over a century, NFL has cemented itself as a part of the American culture which has its roots in the brawl, enthusiasm, and grit of sportsmanship.
Most Successful NFL teams
There may be 32 teams in the NFL roster, but not all of them are equally famed or successful. The popularity is somewhat similar to the sport itself, it is tough and you have to fight for it. Over the years, surviving many brawls, there are only a few teams that can be called successful, in terms of both popularity and revenue. Below, we have mentioned a few all-time famous and successful teams in the National Football League.
Dallas Cowboys
There has been a steady decline in the success of the Dallas Cowboys for the past few decades, confusing the younger fans as to why they are very important. Dallas Cowboys dominated the NFL back in the 1970s, winning the Superbowl 5 times. Superbowl is the most prestigious event in American Football. Few of the Cowboys players were given highly respected and given legendary status. They won two Superbowls in the 70s, and three in the 90s. The ownership change along with bringing Switzer as the head coach, transformed the team into a winning machine, scoring the most touchdowns in the 95-96 season.
In 2020 alone, the Cowboys witnessed a revenue just shy of a billion, amounting to $980 million, of which $435 million was the net operating profit.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Domination and Pittsburgh Steelers, are pretty much the same thing. For over the past 5 decades, there is one name that translates to fear, which is usually for the rivals. The key behind their success is the head coach, well not just one but a large number of them, all of the head coaches have either helped them win the championship or is a champion himself. Pittsburgh was a huge name in the 70s as they were able to win four Superbowls. After a small slump period and changes in head coaches, they finally appointed Bill Cowher as he guided them towards their sixth title in 2005.
In 2020, they had net revenue of $364 million which is a result of $95 million net operating profit, which is a drastic fall compared to one year earlier, due to the pandemic. The team makes most of its money from merchandise and sponsorships.
San Francisco 49ers
After the dominating era of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 49ers replaced them in the 80s. The pace and understanding of the sport were far much better than any other team back then. With four titles in the 80s alone, they are often known as the West Coast Giants. The team was largely coached by Billy Walsh, who pioneered the offense method and paved the way for the team to win two super bowls in the early 80s. Largely considered as underdogs ever since their inception, they managed to thrash all the names and establish themself as a successful team.
The 49ers were able to rake in $380 million in profit in 2020 alone, which is derived from total revenue of $838 million.
History of NFL
On 20th August 1920, after a long and tedious meeting held between various football teams from Ohio League and other smaller leagues, American Professional Football Association (APFA) was formed. It was formed with the intention of increasing professional football standards. The first season had 14 teams, with a $100 participation fee.
After 2 years and an increase in the number of teams, in 1922, National Football League (NFL) was formed. In 1926, the number of teams increased to 22, a growth spurt which they could not surpass until the 60s. This was due to the Great Depression, with only 10 teams remained after others decided to shut down. After a few years of ups and downs, in 1960 American Football League was formed. This duration in NFL history is often dubbed the Golden Era due to amount of legendary players playing actively versus each other.
A few years of record-shattering performances and league mergers, it has made NFL what it is today, a powerhouse in American sports.
Final Thoughts
Contrary to popular belief, NFL isn’t owned privately, yet it is one of the most successful leagues in the world, raking billions in revenue annually. The franchise owners are part owners of the NFL. Every team owner has a say in the operation of the league. NFL is essentially the reason behind the love for football which has been deep-rooted in our American culture.
