NFL Reportedly Hit $11.1B in Revenue During 2021

National revenue for the NFL’s 2021 season reportedly reached $11.1 billion — totaling $343.75 million for each team.

The figure is 12% higher than in 2020, according to a report, which says it’s a record tally — though in January, Bloomberg reported the NFL’s 2019 revenue to be $15 billion, with the goal of boosting it to $25 billion by 2027.

The figure from Thursday’s report includes media rights, sponsorships, and shared revenue and royalties from NFL subsidiaries and affiliates. 

• Sponsorship revenue for the league reportedly increased 23%. Outlets recently reported that the league was nearing $2 billion in sponsorship deals for the first time.
• Before the start of the season, it was estimated the teams’ revenue would fall between $335 million and $340 million.

All but one of the league’s 32 teams are privately owned, meaning local revenue isn’t known. The Green Bay Packers are the sole NFL franchise that makes results public, though their figures give insight into the rest of the league. 

The Packers’ 2021 report will be released this month. In 2020, they reported $309.2 million in revenue — up from $296 million in 2019 — with $62 million in local revenue.

Future Finances

The NFL’s revenue is poised to go up. Last year, the NFL signed broadcasting deals worth roughly $113 billion, setting teams up for more than $400 million in revenue. Most of the deals begin in 2023, but ESPN’s deal — roughly $2.7 billion annually — began this year.

The league is also working to grow its international business to $1 billion. Last year, it began allowing teams to market in specific foreign countries.