While most NFL fans know their favorite team's head coach and starting quarterback, the owner is arguably the most important individual in setting the foundation for success. Some owners, like the New England Patriots ' Robert Kraft , are well-known even among casual football fans.
Others are far less recognized, especially those who have recently assumed control of a team. In 2026, San Francisco 49ers limited partner Vinod Khosla agreed to purchase the Seattle Seahawks .
As part of the deal, the Khosla family will be required to relinquish its ownership stake in the 49ers. Take a look at the primary owner(s) for all 32 NFL franchises below: Arizona Cardinals : Michael Bidwill Bidwill served as the Cardinals' president for 13 seasons before inheriting the team from his father, Bill Bidwill, who owned the team from 1962 until his death in 2019.
Originally, Charles Bidwill -- Michael's grandfather -- bought the Chicago Cardinals in 1933 and owned the team until his death in 1947, months before they won their second and most recent championship. Atlanta Falcons : Arthur Blank Blank has become among the NFL's most recognizable owners since purchasing the Falcons for $545 million in 2002.
The sale came a year after Blank retired as co-chairman of Home Depot, which he helped co-found in 1978. Blank also owns Atlanta United (MLS) and sold a 10% stake in the Falcons for an estimated $300 million in 2019.
Baltimore Ravens : Steve Bisciotti Bisciotti earned his fortune as the founder of Aerotek, a staffing and recruiting firm for engineering and technology companies. He purchased 49% of the Ravens for $275 million in 2000 -- 10 months before the team won its first Super Bowl -- and secured full ownership for an additional $325 million in 2004.
Buffalo Bills : Kim and Terry Pegula The Pegulas, who have co-owned the Bills since 2014, originally purchased the Buffalo Sabres (NHL) in 2011 for a reported $189 million with the promise to never move the team. Three years later, after the death of Bills founder and longtime owner Ralph Wilson , the Pegulas paid a then-record $1.4 billion to keep the franchise in Buffalo.
Carolina Panthers : David Tepper When Tepper bought the Panthers for $2.3 billion in 2018, it wasn't just the most anyone had ever paid for an NFL team -- it was among the highest price tags in the history of North American sports. It was still a drop in the bucket for the renowned hedge fund manager, who was previously a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chicago Bears : George McCaskey Virginia Halas McCaskey, 102, was the longest-tenured owner in the NFL and the oldest owner in major U.S. professional sports prior to her death in February 2025.
She inherited the team from her father, George Halas -- the legendary Bears founder who won 324 games and six NFL titles as a coach and owned the team from 1921 until his death in 1983. Virginia's son George took over as controlling owner following her passing.
Cincinnati Bengals : Mike Brown Brown has owned and operated the Bengals since the 1991 death of his father, Paul Brown, who co-founded and coached both the Bengals and the rival Cleveland Browns -- a franchise named after him. Cleveland Browns : Dee and Jimmy Haslam Jimmy Haslam, whose father founded the nation's largest truck stop chain (Pilot Flying J), became CEO of the company in 1996 and bought a minority stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008.
He sold it four years later to buy the Cleveland Browns for a reported $1.1 billion in 2012. He and his wife, Dee, also own the Columbus Crew (MLS) and a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA).
Dallas Cowboys : Jerry Jones Since purchasing the Cowboys for $140 million in 1989, Jones has arguably become the face of the NFL ownership group. The longtime oil baron and real estate magnate has turned the Cowboys into the most valuable franchise in all of professional sports, estimated to be worth roughly $9 billion as of 2023 -- $1.5 billion more than any other team.
Denver Broncos : Greg Penner Penner is in his third season as Owner & Chief Executive Officer of the Denver Broncos in 2024. He is controlling owner of the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, which was unanimously approved by the NFL to purchase the Broncos on Aug.
9, 2022. Penner has primary responsibility for day-to-day Broncos operations while overseeing both football and business operations for the franchise.
Detroit Lions : Sheila Ford Hamp Sheila Ford Hamp is one of just 10 current female owners in t