NFL owners don’t simply write the checks. Success starts at the top. Throughout the league, perennially competitive teams often boast strong ownership groups willing to invest resources in winning.
Who are the best owners in the league? Let’s rank every NFL owner from 32 to 1.
2024 NFL Owner Rankings
32) David Tepper, Carolina Panthers
It doesn’t get much worse than this. Since buying the Carolina Panthers in 2018, David Tepper has hired six head coaches. He’s canceled the construction of a new practice facility. He even threw a drink at a fan!
Between botching the Bryce Young selection at the top of the 2023 NFL Draft and posting a 34-75 record in Carolina, Tepper is comfortably the NFL’s worst owner.
31) Woody Johnson, New York Jets
“Ready, aim, fire.” That’s how Bill Belichick — a two-time interim New York Jets head coach — described Woody Johnson and the rest of the club’s ownership group’s thinking when they fired head coach Robert Saleh earlier this season.
Gang Green has won the AFC East just once since Johnson bought the team in 2000, and that first-place finish came more than two decades ago. Firing general manager Joe Douglas in late November represented more of the same for one of the NFL’s most directionless franchises.
30) Mark Davis, Las Vegas Raiders
The transition from Al to Mark Davis hasn’t necessarily changed much for the Las Vegas Raiders. Sure, moving the team to Sin City and building a new stadium was a win, but the Raiders’ on-field results have remained lackluster. Davis has run through a cavalcade of unsuccessful head coaches, including Dennis Allen, Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels, and incumbent Antonio Pierce.
29) Jimmy Haslam, Cleveland Browns
As if the Cleveland Browns’ poor win-loss record wasn’t enough, Jimmy Haslam authorized arguably the worst trade in NFL history. Cleveland’s trade for QB Deshaun Watson cost them six draft picks (including three first-rounders) and $230 million in fully guaranteed cash.
Just when the Browns thought they had things in place with GM Andrew Berry and two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, the failures of the Watson move have pulled the rug out from under the franchise.
28) Amy Adams Strunk, Tennessee Titans
Amy Adams Strunk’s defining decision was firing head coach Mike Vrabel after the 2023 campaign. Things haven’t gone well in the wake of that move, as new HC Brian Callahan has struggled to get as much out of the Tennessee Titans’ roster. It’s entirely too early in Strunk’s tenure to wholly assess her skills as an owner, but parting ways with Vrabel might’ve been a misstep.
27) Shad Khan, Jacksonville Jaguars
By all accounts, Shad Khan wants to field a winning team. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ owner has never been afraid to spend, both on player acquisitions and on off-field reinforcements in the analytics space. Khan has generally exuded patience with his GMs and head coaches, only firing Urban Meyer after 13 games in 2021 when Meyer’s actions forced Khan’s hand.
But the NFL is a results-based league, and the Jags are 62-144 since Khan bought the team in 2012.
26) John Mara and Steve Tisch, New York Giants
While the New York Giants’ ownership group deserves credit for their multiple Super Bowls, things have been rough over the past decade-plus.
Since 2011, Big Blue has posted just one season with more than nine wins. They’ve gone through a long list of failed head coaches — Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, and Brian Daboll — while trying to replace Tom Coughlin. And the Giants’ summer 2024 appearance on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” only furthered the notion that New York’s decision-makers might not be moving in the right direction.
25) Virginia Halas McCaskey, Chicago Bears
Virginia Halas McCaskey owned the Chicago Bears when they won the Super Bowl after the 1985 season — but that was a long time ago.
The 101-year-old McCaskey is no longer involved in day-to-day franchise activities, but the Bears’ ownership group has done a poor job. Chicago has made just six playoff appearances this century while failing to land on a franchise quarterback or stabilizing head coach. Caleb Williams might fix the first problem; Matt Eberflus won’t rectify the second.
24) Dean Spanos, Los Angeles Chargers
While the Los Angeles Chargers have typically been viewed as one of the league’s more frugal franchises, that perception could be changing.
Dean Spanos’ team lured Jim Harbaugh away from the University of Michigan with a five-year contract that reportedly pays him $16 million annually. While HC salaries are often kept under wraps, Harbaugh is believed to rank in the top five of the NFL’s highest-paid coaches.
23) Jim Irsay, Indianapolis Colts
The definition of a meddling owner, Jim Irsay has long taken too much of a hand in the Indianapolis Colts’ football matters. Never was that more apparent than when he made the shocking decision to hire ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday as the Colts’ interim head coach in 2023.
Did Irsay mandate a last-second Jonathan Taylor extension last year? Did he force the Colts’ staff to bench Anthony Richardson in 2024? No one knows for sure, but the fact that most assume Irsay made those calls is telling.
22) Michael Bidwill, Arizona Cardinals
While Michael Bidwill would’ve ranked much lower on this list a few years ago, things are starting to change for the Arizona Cardinals. After years of in-house front-office hires, the Cards finally made an external choice with GM Monti Ossenfort in 2023.
Overhauling how an entire organization conducts the business of evaluating and acquiring talent is a massive undertaking, but Arizona is already seeing results in 2024.
21) Stephen Ross, Miami Dolphins
Stephen Ross and the Miami Dolphins received league-best grades in the NFLPA’s 2024 team report card surveys. The Dolphins earned A marks across the board for their locker room, training staff, and other accommodations, while Ross was one of two owners to receive an A+ from players.
Unfortunately, those amenities haven’t necessarily translated to success. With Ross in charge, Miami is 120-133 and has made just three playoff appearances in 16 seasons. Getting involved in a Tom Brady tampering case — which led to the Dolphins losing their 2023 first-round pick — doesn’t help Ross’s case.
20) Mike Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
Long derided as one of the NFL’s cheapest owners, Mike Brown has seen his Cincinnati Bengals enjoy some successes since he took over the franchise from his father, NFL legend Paul Brown. Mike Brown hired Marvin Lewis, who helped get the Bengals out of the league’s doldrums, while no-brainer draft choice Joe Burrow took the club to a Super Bowl appearance.
However, Brown’s tenure has too often been defined by contract disputes with talented players. Former quarterback Carson Palmer held out and demanded a trade rather than play for Cincinnati. In 2024 alone, WR Tee Higgins and DE Trey Hendrickson requested trades, while All-Pro WR Ja’Marr Chase still doesn’t have an extension.
19) Greg Penner, Denver Broncos
So far, so good.
Greg Penner is the controlling owner of the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, which paid $4.65 billion for the Denver Broncos in 2022. The Walton-Penner group traded for head coach Sean Payton and quickly moved on from quarterback Russell Wilson to draft rookie Bo Nix, both of which look like successful decisions this season. They also announced plans for a $175 million state-of-the-art training facility set to open in 2026 and unveiled a $100 million in upgrades to Empower Field at Mile High.
18) Cal McNair, Houston Texans
Cal McNair’s initial few years as the Houston Texans’ owner were a disaster. After taking over for his father in 2018, McNair oversaw a run that included multiple head coaches and three straight seasons with four or fewer victories.
Hiring head coach DeMeco Ryans and drafting quarterback C.J. Stroud has seemed to change all that overnight. Houston went to the playoffs in Ryans’ first season in charge and is cruising toward another AFC South title in 2024.
17) Jody Allen, Seattle Seahawks
Jody Allen took charge of the Seattle Seahawks after her brother, Paul Allen, died in 2018. She will reportedly be required to sell the team at some point, but it remains unclear when she’ll give up control.
Since taking over, Allen OK’d parting ways with franchise stalwarts like head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson.
16) Josh Harris, Washington Commanders
Washing away the stink of the Daniel Snyder era was never going to be easy, but new Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris is doing everything right.
He hired GM Adam Peters, who would probably be the NFL’s Executive of the Year if the season ended today. Peters, in turn, brought in new head coach Dan Quinn, who’s instilled the good vibes that’d been missing in the nation’s capital for years.
The results? A winning record, a probable trip to the playoffs, and the discovery of a franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels. Not bad!
15) Sheila Ford Hamp, Detroit Lions
Sheila Ford Hamp’s first decision upon taking over the Detroit Lions in 2020 was to fire then-GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia. Her second significant move was to hire general manager Brad Holmes and HC Dan Campbell.
It’s hard to imagine those two calls working out any better. Detroit has turned in one of the best roster resets in recent NFL history. Having failed to win their division since 1993, the Lions advanced to the NFC title game in 2023 and were a few plays away from appearing in their first-ever Super Bowl.
14) Gayle Benson, New Orleans Saints
Gayle Benson’s New Orleans Saints were successful through the Sean Payton/Drew Brees era, but the club’s ownership group is now facing an entirely different challenge.
No NFL team is more cap-strapped than the Saints, who fired head coach Dennis Allen at midseason and need to embark on a multi-season rebuild. Whether Benson follows through with that plan will affect her place in these rankings.
13) Glazer Family, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Glazer family has long been willing to take risks to win championships for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. More than two decades ago, they traded for head coach Jon Gruden, who quickly brought the Bucs a Super Bowl title. Then, the Glazers made a play for Hall of Fame QB Tom Brady, leading to another Lombardi.
Even the post-Brady transition has been handled with aplomb, with Baker Mayfield stepping in as an adequate replacement under center.
12) Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys
The only active NFL owner enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jerry Jones built the Dallas Cowboys into a powerhouse in the 1990s, bringing three Super Bowl titles to the Star.
Still, it’s hard to move Jones much higher if we’re ranking owners based on their current contributions. The Cowboys haven’t been able to recreate their last-century success and have failed to make an NFC Championship Game appearance since 1995. Consistent issues with deciding when to extend player contracts and a general preference for flash over substance also push Jones down our rankings.
11) Denise DeBartolo York and Jed York, San Francisco 49ers
While the York family ran into a dispute with former head coach Jim Harbaugh, they’ve since rebranded the San Francisco 49ers with GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan at the top of the organizational flowchart.
A Super Bowl win has eluded the 49ers despite multiple deep playoff runs in recent seasons, but San Francisco has been the class of the NFC for years.
10) Arthur Blank, Atlanta Falcons
Arthur Blank has largely prioritized stability since purchasing the Atlanta Falcons in 2002. After early head coaching hires like Jim Mora Jr. and Bobby Petrino didn’t work out, he has been patient with HCs Mike Smith, Dan Quinn, and Arthur Smith. Former Atlanta executive Thomas Dimitroff got 13 seasons in the GM chair.
9) Zygi Wilf, Minnesota Vikings
Zygi Wilf joined the Dolphins’ Ross as the only other NFL owner to earn an A+ grade in this year’s NFLPA survey. The Wilf family oversaw the construction of a U.S. Bank Stadium and a new Minnesota Vikings practice facility, both of which have been lauded by players and observers alike.
Under Wilf’s leadership, the Vikings have twice reached the NFC title game. With GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell in charge, Minnesota could soon trend in that direction again.
8) Stan Kroenke, Los Angeles Rams
Stan Kroenke brought the Rams from St. Louis to Los Angeles, helped develop the beautiful SoFi Stadium, hired head coach Sean McVay, and won a Super Bowl six years after moving the team.
While fans in Missouri will never forgive Kroenke for taking the Rams to California, it’s hard to find many missteps in his plan.
7) Terry Pegula, Buffalo Bills
It’s almost easy to forget how dismal the Buffalo Bills were before Terry Pegula bought the club in 2014.
The Bills had missed the playoffs in every season from 2000 through 2013. They were something worse than a laughingstock — they were an afterthought.
Pegula hired GM Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott, who drafted quarterback Josh Allen — and the rest is history. While the Bills still haven’t won a Super Bowl title, they’ve gone 106-67 since Pegula took over.
6) Green Bay Packers, Inc.
No owner? No problem.
Every NFL team has an owner except for the Green Bay Packers, which are run by a committee led by team president and CEO Mark Murphy. The Packers have maintained consistency despite not having one individual at the top.
Transitioning from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love under center was a masterstroke that required patience — the sort of patience that a sole owner might not have had.
5) Steve Bisciotti, Baltimore Ravens
Always willing to embrace unconventional thinking, Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti hired John Harbaugh — a former special teams coordinator — as his head coach in 2008 and hasn’t looked back.
Bisciotti has leaned on Harbaugh and executives like Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta to keep the Ravens competitive annually. He authorized Lamar Jackson’s selection and contract extension, knocking it out of the park for what could be a three-time MVP.
4) Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles
Few owners are more willing to invest resources into their teams at the same pace as the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jeffrey Lurie. The Eagles repeatedly spend right up to the salary cap limit, with Lurie supporting GM Howie Roseman’s financial machinations that might cost more in cash but save space on the cap.
Lurie has also been at the forefront of the NFL’s analytics revolution. Head coaches need ownership’s backing to spurn conventional football tendencies, and Lurie has always supported forward-thinking approaches in Philadelphia.
3) Art Rooney II, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers embody consistency. The Rooney family has infamously hired just three head coaches since 1969, which almost sounds like a made-up factoid in a league where between six to eight HCs are fired seemingly each offseason.
The Steelers have stayed the course in their front office, too, seamlessly transitioning from Kevin Colbert to Omar Khan in 2022. Although Pittsburgh hasn’t won a Super Bowl since Art Rooney took over in 2017, the Steelers remain one of the NFL’s storied franchises.
2) Robert Kraft, New England Patriots
Robert Kraft is next in line to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s ownership wing after his league-defining run as the New England Patriots’ owner.
While Kraft’s relationship with legendary head coach Bill Belichick had deteriorated by the end of their tenure together, the Patriots were the NFL’s poster child of success for two decades. Along with Tom Brady, Kraft and Belichick brought six Super Bowls to New England, redefining the shape of the league in the process.
1) Clark Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
It’s hard to argue with success.
Clark Hunt, who inherited the Kansas City Chiefs from his father in 2006, has helped create the NFL’s modern dynasty. Nearly every decision Hunt has spearheaded over the past decade-plus — hiring head coach Andy Reid, drafting Patrick Mahomes, promoting Brett Veach to GM — has worked out like gangbusters.
Kansas City has won two straight Super Bowls, three of the last five Lombardis, and is aiming for its ninth consecutive AFC West title. The NFL hasn’t seen this level of dominance since the Brady-era Patriots, and Hunt deserves credit at the top.