Stephen Ross has listened to the numbers, and they are hard to ignore. Offers nearing $15 billion for the Miami Dolphins would place the franchise among the most expensive assets in global sports. Still, Ross remains unmoved.
As valuations surge across the NFL, the longtime owner is holding firm, framing his decision around belief, legacy, and a broader vision that extends well beyond short-term financial gain.
Stephen Ross Views the Dolphins as an Unmatched Long-Term Asset
Ross addressed the reported interest during a Bloomberg News interview in Florida, emphasizing that money alone is not enough to justify a sale. “I don’t think there’s a better asset,” Ross said, acknowledging the scale of the offers as “pretty high numbers.”
Even so, he made it clear he has no plans to sell, openly questioning the logic of cashing out. “Where would you put the money then? What would I do with it?” Those remarks underline how Ross views NFL ownership. Rather than treating the Dolphins as a transaction, he sees the team as a rare, appreciating asset that carries long-term stability and personal significance.
That outlook explains why, in 2024, Ross sold only minority stakes totaling 13 percent instead of stepping away entirely. The deal, which also included Hard Rock Stadium and Formula One’s Miami Grand Prix, valued the broader portfolio at about $8 billion, Bloomberg reported.
Ross said the partial sale was driven by practical needs rather than a shift in confidence. At 85, the founder of Related Companies needed capital to fund other Florida-based projects while maintaining control of the Dolphins.
He has also outlined a clear succession plan, stating that the franchise will remain in his family, with his son-in-law, Daniel Sillman, prepared to eventually assume ownership responsibilities.
Rising Media Rights and On-Field Context Shape the Bigger Picture
Ross’s confidence is closely tied to the NFL’s financial trajectory. He expects franchise values to keep climbing as media rights deals expand and competition intensifies. Streaming platforms have become a key part of that equation, with companies like Netflix entering the live NFL broadcast space, reinforcing the league’s long-term revenue outlook.
Forbes’ valuation offers additional perspective. The outlet estimated the Dolphins were worth $7.5 billion before the 2025 season, ranking them 11th in the league and well below the figures Ross said have been discussed.
Forbes also noted that the average NFL team is now valued at $7.1 billion, highlighting just how dramatically prices have risen since Ross finalized his $1 billion purchase in 2009. On the field, results have not mirrored the franchise’s financial momentum. The Dolphins finished the 2025 season with a 7–10 record, extending their Super Bowl drought to 1974.
According to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, the Dolphins posted a score of 73.1, below the league average of 74.2. That performance ranked 19th in the NFL and earned a C grade, underscoring how middling it was, given the team’s soaring valuation.
Even so, Ross appears unfazed by short-term results. From his perspective, the scarcity of NFL franchises, the league’s expanding media ecosystem, and a commitment to family ownership outweigh any single offer, no matter how large.
