All 32 NFL owners from worst to first: The good, the bad and a few surprises (2024)

NFL team owners collect millions in revenue. They wield outsized power over their organizations and in their communities. They point to the bottom line, wins and losses, when firing coaches and executives, sometimes without giving them much time. But their own won-lost records appear nowhere.

Even people who follow the NFL closely might not know whether Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross owns a better record than New York Giants owner John Mara (he does).

They might not know whether female owners account for two of the five highest winning percentages since taking over their teams (they do).

They might not know that the only team without a traditional owner could lose 200 games overnight without dipping below .500 (the Green Bay Packers could).

They might not know that five of the last six owners to buy (rather than inherit) a team make up the bottom five in win percentage (they do — the lone exception is the Buffalo Bills’ Terry Pegula).

Some of these ownership situations are difficult to evaluate for reasons such as owners allowing their offspring to operate their teams. I’ve used simple criteria in ranking owners from worst to best win rates below. For our purposes, wins and losses are counted for owners after the NFL has approved their purchases; after an owner transferred the team to a family member; or after an owner died and left the team to an heir.

Setting aside the Packers and their 1,430 games without an individual owner, the Chicago Bears’ Virginia McCaskey ranks No. 1 in total games (644) and wins (324), but only 16th in win rate. The Washington Commanders’ Josh Harris resides at the other end with only 13 games, and with a 4-9 record (.308) so far, that is where we begin.

The charts below show each owner’s wins by season, with markers for when each coach (excluding interim coaches who weren’t retained) was hired. You can toggle the view to see cumulative wins over time relative to .500.

32. Josh Harris, Washington Commanders: 4-9 (.308)

Owner since: 2023

Playoff record: N/A

Coach inherited: Ron Rivera

Coaches hired: None

Harris might need to win a Super Bowl to top his biggest victory, which was replacing unpopular owner Daniel Snyder entering this season. Thirteen games is hardly enough to assess much, although that was two more games than Carolina’s owner needed to return a verdict on his recently fired coach. Big changes for Washington are expected once this season ends.

31. Shad Khan, Jacksonville Jaguars: 60-133 (.311)

Owner since: Dec. 15, 2011

Playoff record: 3-2

Coach inherited: Mel Tucker (interim)

Coaches hired: Mike Mularkey (2-14), Gus Bradley (14-48), Doug Marrone (23-43), Urban Meyer (2-11), Doug Pederson (17-12)

Pederson has a winning record through his first 29 games. Three of Khan’s previous four coaching hires never had a winning record at any point during their tenures. Marrone was above .500 through 27 games, but never during his final 39. Khan now has his best combination of coach and quarterback, with a general manager who has improved the personnel.

30. David Tepper, Carolina Panthers: 30-64 (.319)

Owner since: 2018

Playoff record:N/A

Coach inherited: Ron Rivera

Coaches hired: Matt Rhule (11-27), Frank Reich (1-10)

Tepper has had as many interim coaches (three) in the past four years as the Steelers have had head coaches in the past 54. That seems notable with Tepper having previously served as minority owner of the Steelers. Tepper’s record has gone from 12-16 (.429) under Rivera to 12-37 (.245) with Rhule and Reich. Interim coaches Steve Wilks (6-6), Perry Fewell (0-4) and Chris Tabor (0-1) account for the remaining wins and losses.

29. Jimmy Haslam, Cleveland Browns: 65-117-1 (.358)

Owner since: Oct. 25, 2012

Playoff record:1-1

Coach inherited: Pat Shurmur

Coaches hired: Rob Chudzinski (4-12), Mike Pettine (10-22), Hue Jackson (3-36-1), Freddie Kitchens (6-10), Kevin Stefanski (33-29)

Haslam, who was also a Steelers minority owner, has one winning record to show for 10 full seasons of ownership. The super-stable Steelers producing Haslam and Tepper, two of the most impulsive owners in the league, seems as likely as Tony Dungy’s coaching tree producing two Rex Ryans. It somehow happened.

The Browns under Haslam have stabilized under their current football leadership. Cleveland has a winning record and 1-1 playoff mark since hiring Stefanski as coach. The playoff victory was the Browns’ first since the 1994 season, when Bill Belichick was coach.

The irony is that Haslam’s huge swing for Deshaun Watson might also promote stability, simply because the team cannot escape the quarterback’s contract anytime soon.

28. Greg Penner, Denver Broncos: 11-18 (.379)

Owner since: 2022

Playoff record:N/A

Coach inherited: Nathaniel Hackett

Coaches hired: Sean Payton (6-6)

Note: An earlier version of this article listed Rob Walton as the Broncos’ owner. His son-in-law, Greg Penner, has been running the team since the sale and was formally designated as the team’s principal owner beginning in October.

Hackett was already in place when the NFL approved the sale to the Penner-Walton group shortly before the 2022 season. The team has made two major moves since the group took over. Signing quarterback Russell Wilson to a $245 million extension was one. Hiring Payton as coach was the other.

27. Cal McNair, Houston Texans: 32-51-1 (.387)

Owner since: Nov. 24, 2018

Playoff record: 1-2

Coach inherited: Bill O’Brien

Coaches hired: David Culley (4-13), Lovie Smith (3-13-1), DeMeco Ryans (7-5)

McNair took over ownership after his father died during the 2018 season. The Texans went to the playoffs that season and the next before descending into one of the most chaotic periods any franchise has endured over a three-season run. Stability finally appears to have arrived with Ryans taking over as coach and C.J. Stroud in place as the starting quarterback.

26. Mark Davis, Las Vegas Raiders: 82-120 (.406)

Owner since: Oct. 9, 2011

Playoff record: 0-2

Coach inherited: Hue Jackson

Coaches hired: Dennis Allen (8-28), Jack Del Rio (25-23), Jon Gruden (11-21), Josh McDaniels (9-16)

If it feels nothing has changed substantively since Mark Davis took over for Al Davis, his Hall of Fame father, the on-field record would concur.

The Raiders are 71-107 (.399) in their first 11 full seasons under Mark.

They were 70-106 (.398) in their final 11 full seasons under Al.

Al Davis left the franchise to his widow, Carol Davis, but Mark is the controlling owner and managing general partner.

25. Michael Bidwill, Arizona Cardinals: 31-44 (.413)

Owner since: Oct. 3, 2019

Playoff record: 0-1

Coach inherited: Kliff Kingsbury

Coaches hired: Jonathan Gannon (3-10)

Michael Bidwill was running the team for years before his father, Bill Bidwill, died at age 88 during the 2019 season, but the elder Bidwill remained owner until his passing.

Michael Bidwill drove decisions to hire coaches Dennis Green, Ken Whisenhunt, Bruce Arians, Steve Wilks, Kingsbury and Gannon, beginning in 2004. The team has a 144-173-2 (.454) record since then, which would move Michael up a few spots in this ranking. The team reached a Super Bowl for the first time during that span, but also has suffered from dysfunction in recent years.

24. Mike Brown, Cincinnati Bengals: 220-301-4 (.423)

Owner since: 1991

Playoff record: 5-9

Coach inherited: Sam Wyche

Coaches hired: David Shula (19-52), Bruce Coslet (21-39), Dick LeBeau (12-33), Marvin Lewis (131-122-3), Zac Taylor (34-42-1)

Mike Brown took over for his Hall of Fame father and team founder, Paul Brown, and has in recent years ceded control to his daughter, Katie Blackburn. Lewis’ tenure is frequently remembered for his 0-7 mark in the postseason, but it also stands out for its longevity and winning record. Lewis, Forrest Gregg (32-25) and Bill “Tiger” Johnson (18-15) are the only coaches in franchise history with winning records during their tenures, as Paul Brown (55-56-1) fell just short of .500 despite an 11-3 record in his final season.

23. Sheila Ford Hamp, Detroit Lions: 26-35-1 (.427)

Owner since: 2020

Playoff record: N/A

Coach inherited: Matt Patricia

Coaches hired: Dan Campbell (21-24-1)

The Lions are 17-5 in their past 22 games and on pace to have top-10 scoring offenses in consecutive seasons for the first time since Barry Sanders and Herman Moore starred for the team under coach Wayne Fontes in the mid-1990s.

Ford Hamp became vice chairwoman of the Lions when her father, William Clay Ford Sr., died in 2014 and left the team to her mother, Martha Firestone Ford. She took over ownership from her mother in 2020 and started fresh by firing Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn during that season.

22. Woody Johnson, New York Jets: 165-217 (.432)

Owner since: 2000

Playoff record: 8-8

Coach inherited: None

Coaches hired: Al Groh (9-7), Herm Edwards (39-41), Eric Mangini (23-25), Rex Ryan (46-50), Todd Bowles (24-40), Adam Gase (9-23), Robert Saleh (15-31)

Johnson’s ownership tenure began with the team in turmoil following Bill Parcells’ retirement just as Johnson was taking control of the team. The turmoil continued when Parcells’ supposed successor, Bill Belichick, quit shortly before the news conference to announce his hiring. The coach Johnson eventually hired, Al Groh, resigned after one season to become coach at Virginia. The franchise has seemingly been in varying states of turmoil ever since, and especially now.

21. Joel Glazer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 71-87 (.449)

Owner since: 2014

Playoff record: 5-2 (1-0 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Lovie Smith

Coaches hired: Dirk Koetter (19-29), Bruce Arians (31-18), Todd Bowles (13-16)

Glazer and his siblings were running the team long before their father, Malcolm, died in May 2014, but that was the date when ownership formally transitioned. The franchise has been willing to take big swings — trading for coach Jon Gruden, signing Tom Brady — but has struggled to win consistently.

The Buccaneers went 34-62 (.354) in their first six seasons following Malcolm Glazer’s passing. Only the Jaguars and Browns were worse during that stretch. Brady delivered two winning records and a Super Bowl victory during his three seasons with the team. The future is now murky again.

20. John Mara, New York Giants: 138-157-1 (.468)

Owner since: Oct. 26, 2005

Playoff record:9-5 (2-0 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Tom Coughlin

Coaches hired: Ben McAdoo (13-15), Pat Shurmur (9-23), Joe Judge (10-23), Brian Daboll (13-15-1)

The Mara name is legendary in the NFL, but the franchise’s trajectory since Hall of Famer Wellington Mara merits some scrutiny.

With Coughlin already in place, the Giants won two Super Bowls in the first six seasons after John Mara took over for his father. The team ranks 27th in winning percentage since that second Super Bowl victory following the 2011 season. The Giants’ 82-123-1 (.400) record over that span outranks the records for the Commanders, Raiders, Jets, Browns and Jaguars. The Lions recently overtook the Giants since 2012.

T-17. Denise DeBartolo York, San Francisco 49ers: 190-207-1 (.479)

Owner since: 1999

Playoff record:12-8 (0-2 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Steve Mariucci

Coaches hired: Dennis Erickson (9-23), Mike Nolan (18-37), Mike Singletary (18-22), Jim Harbaugh (44-19-1), Jim Tomsula (6-11), Chip Kelly (2-14), Kyle Shanahan (61-49)

DeBartolo York took over for her brother, Eddie Jr., just as concussions were forcing quarterback Steve Young into retirement. The team went 4-12 in her first season, ending a streak of 16 consecutive with winning records. Her son, Jed, took over day-to-day operations in 2006. An eight-season stretch without a winning record ended with Harbaugh’s hiring in 2011. The 49ers are 112-93-1 (.546) since then, the 10th-best record in the NFL, and have reached two Super Bowls. Jed York seems to have grown into the lead role.

T-17. Stephen Ross, Miami Dolphins: 114-124 (.479)

Owner since: 2009

Playoff record: 0-2

Coach inherited: Tony Sparano

Coaches hired: Joe Philbin (24-28), Adam Gase (23-25), Brian Flores (24-25), Mike McDaniel (18-11)

Ross’ last three head-coaching hires produced winning seasons within their first two years on the job. His first hire, Philbin, went 8-8 in his second and third seasons. That is not terrible, despite some tumultuous times along the way. The 9-3 Dolphins now sit atop the AFC East with a top-five offense, an improving defense, a reborn quarterback and arguably the NFL’s most interesting coach in McDaniel.

T-17. Stan Kroenke, Los Angeles Rams: 106-115-1 (.480)

Owner since: 2010

Playoff record: 7-3 (1-1 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Steve Spagnuolo

Coaches hired: Jeff Fisher (31-45-1), Sean McVay (66-44)

Kroenke made no friends in St. Louis when he relocated the team to Los Angeles, but the franchise is in much better position now than it was then. Kroenke’s hiring of McVay, his ability to build a new stadium, his willingness to fund a Super Bowl-winning roster and his vision for nestling a new headquarters inside a 100-acre economic development distinguish him.

16. Virginia McCaskey, Chicago Bears: 324-320 (.503)

Owner since: Nov. 1, 1983

Playoff record: 10-15 (1-1 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Mike Ditka

Coaches hired: Dave Wannstedt (40-56), Dick Jauron (35-45), Lovie Smith (81-63), Marc Trestman (13-19), John Fox (14-34), Matt Nagy (34-31), Matt Eberflus (7-22)

If anyone spends a long enough time in the NFL, they’ll likely wind up near .500, to my thinking. Parity pulls like gravity, and everyone succumbs eventually.

McCaskey was 60 when she inherited the team from her Hall of Fame father, George Halas, following his passing during the 1983 season. She turned 100 in January and still attends games, but her sons have run the team for years, with George McCaskey in charge of day-to-day operations since 2011.

15. Dean Spanos, Los Angeles Chargers: 45-44 (.506)

Owner since: Oct. 10, 2018

Playoff record: 1-2

Coach inherited: Anthony Lynn

Coaches hired: Brandon Staley (24-22)

Alex Spanos owned the Chargers from 1984 until his passing during the 2018 season. His son, Dean, ran day-to-day operations from 1994 until handing over those duties to his son, John, in 2015. Dean Spanos remains the owner of record. The team was 172-164 (.512) when Dean ran day-to-day operations from 1994 to 2014, which was 13th-best in the NFL over that period. The team is 66-67 (.465) since 2015 (20th-best).

The Chargers have not won a division title since 2009, despite having Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert start 221 of 222 regular-season games since the 2010 opener.

14. Arthur Blank, Atlanta Falcons: 177-172-1 (.507)

Owner since: 2002

Playoff record: 6-8 (0-1 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Dan Reeves

Coaches hired: Jim Mora Jr. (26-22), Bobby Petrino (3-10), Mike Smith (66-46), Dan Quinn (43-42), Arthur Smith (20-26)

The Falcons ranked tied with New Orleans for fourth in the NFL with a 95-65 record (.594) from 2008 to 2017, the first 10 seasons of quarterback Matt Ryan’s career. They are now riding a streak of five consecutive losing seasons and are 6-6 so far in 2023, without much evidence they can bet on Desmond Ridder as their quarterback of the future.

13. Amy Adams Strunk, Tennessee Titans: 73-69 (.514)

Owner since: 2015

Playoff record: 3-4

Coach inherited: Ken Whisenhunt

Coaches hired: Mike Mularkey (20-21), Mike Vrabel (52-42)

Adams Strunk’s tenure can be broken into three phases.

The Titans were 4-16 in her first 20 games, beginning with Marcus Mariota’s 2015 debut at quarterback and the transition from Ken Whisenhunt to Mike Mularkey as head coach.

The team then went 65-38 over its next 103 games, which covered the transition from Mularkey to Mike Vrabel on the sideline and from Mariota to Ryan Tannehill behind center.

Tennessee has gone 4-15 since that run, firing general manager Jon Robinson and beginning the transition away from Tannehill.

The Titans’ quarterback uncertainty, combined with an unproven front office and tougher competition within the AFC South, will increase the degree of difficulty in the future.

12. Zygi Wilf, Minnesota Vikings: 160-140-2 (.533)

Owner since: 2005

Playoff record: 3-7

Coach inherited: Mike Tice

Coaches hired: Brad Childress (39-35), Leslie Frazier (21-32-1), Mike Zimmer (72-56-1), Kevin O’Connell (19-10)

Every coach Wilf has hired posted 10-plus victories in a season within three years of taking the job. Tice went 9-7 in his final season with the team, meaning every Vikings coach under Wilf had at least one winning season. Childress and Zimmer reached the NFC Championship Game, but it’s pushing 50 years since the Vikings reached a Super Bowl (1976 season).

11. Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys: 309-249 (.554)

Owner since: 1989

Playoff record: 16-14 (3-0 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Tom Landry

Coaches hired: Jimmy Johnson (44-36), Barry Switzer (40-24), Chan Gailey (18-14), Dave Campo (15-33), Bill Parcells (34-30), Wade Phillips (34-22), Jason Garrett (85-67), Mike McCarthy (39-23)

Seven of the eight coaches hired by Jones had or have winning records, including McCarthy, whose winning percentage so far with the Cowboys (.629) exceeds his win rate with the Packers (.618).

Jones’ failure to replicate the postseason success he enjoyed with the roster Johnson built in the early 1990s did not stop him from earning Hall of Fame enshrinement. The economic vision Jones brought to the league remains a huge part of his legacy. Winning another championship would bookend his career.

10. Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles: 268-207-3 (.564)

Owner since: 1994

Playoff record: 17-16 (1-2 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Rich Kotite

Coaches hired: Ray Rhodes (29-34-1), Andy Reid (130-93-1), Chip Kelly (26-21), Doug Pederson (42-37-1), Nick Sirianni (33-13)

Three of the five coaches Lurie hired reached the Super Bowl. A fourth, Rhodes, was named NFL Coach of the Year. Reaching two of the past six Super Bowls with different coaches and different starting quarterbacks further distinguishes Lurie from most of his peers.

9. Green Bay Packers, Inc.: 796-596-38 (.570)

Owner since: 1921

Playoff record: 36-25 (4-1 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: None

Coaches hired: Curly Lambeau (209-104-21), Gene Ronzani (14-31-1), Ray McLean (1-12-1), Lisle Blackbourn (17-31), Vince Lombardi (89-29-4), Dan Devine (25-27-4), Bart Starr (52-76-3), Forrest Gregg (25-37-1), Lindy Infante (24-40), Mike Holmgren (75-37), Ray Rhodes (8-8), Mike Sherman (57-39), Mike McCarthy (125-77-2), Matt LaFleur (53-25)

The NFL’s ownership requirements apply to every team but the publicly owned Packers, whose seven-member executive committee features team president and CEO Mark Murphy. His tenure is shown in the above chart.

There have been times over the past two decades when a traditional owner might have spurred the team to act more aggressively in an increasingly competitive league, but the unique structure has served the organization well on the whole.

Yes, the Packers really could lose 200 consecutive games overnight without falling below .500 over their 103-year history.

8. Clark Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs: 156-117 (.571)

Owner since: Dec. 14, 2006

Playoff record: 12-9 (2-1 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Herm Edwards

Coaches hired: Todd Haley (19-26), Romeo Crennel (4-15), Andy Reid (125-49)

Lamar Hunt founded the American Football League and the Chiefs (then the Dallas Texans) before passing the team to his four children, with Clark taking control of the team upon Lamar’s passing in 2006.

Hiring Reid was by far the best move Clark Hunt has made since taking control. The Chiefs were 31-68 (.313) from Lamar Hunt’s passing up to Reid’s arrival. Only the Lions and Rams had worse records over those five-plus seasons. The Chiefs own a league-leading 125-49 (.718) win rate since hiring Reid, including the NFL’s third-best record before Patrick Mahomes became the full-time starting quarterback in 2018.

7. Jim Irsay, Indianapolis Colts: 247-182-1 (.576)

Owner since: 1997

Playoff record: 13-15 (1-1 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Lindy Infante

Coaches hired: Jim Mora (32-32), Tony Dungy (85-27), Jim Caldwell (26-22), Chuck Pagano (53-43), Frank Reich (40-33-1), Shane Steichen (7-5)

Irsay’s record is 141-67 (.678) when Peyton Manning starts at quarterback and 106-115-1 (.480) the rest of the time, which is how the league usually works.

All three coaches hired after Manning’s time with the team had winning records. That includes Steichen this season. Irsay’s sometimes erratic behavior and comments distract from that winning legacy.

6. Terry Pegula, Buffalo Bills: 89-63 (.586)

Owner since: Oct. 10, 2014

Playoff record: 4-5

Coach inherited: Doug Marrone

Coaches hired: Rex Ryan (15-16), Sean McDermott (68-41)

The Bills had missed the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons before Pegula and his wife, Kim, purchased the team. That streak ended in their third full season of ownership.

Buffalo trails only Kansas City in winning percentage over the past five-plus seasons but faces challenges in keeping open its championship window and in running the team. Kim Pegula’s heart attack has prevented her from leading the Bills’ day-to-day business operations, which have been marked by executive upheaval.

5. Jody Allen, Seattle Seahawks: 52-36 (.591)

Owner since: Oct. 16, 2018

Playoff record: 1-4

Coach inherited: Pete Carroll

Coaches hired: None

Allen took over the Seahawks when her brother, Paul Allen, died during the 2018 season. She extended the contracts of Carroll and general manager John Schneider, and backed them in their decision to trade franchise quarterback Russell Wilson.

As trustee of her brother’s trust, Allen is guiding the process of liquidating his assets to support causes he considered important. That will reportedly lead to selling the team, although there is no known timeline and no apparent urgency.

4. Steve Bisciotti, Baltimore Ravens: 189-129 (.594)

Owner since: 2004

Playoff record: 11-10 (1-0 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Brian Billick

Coaches hired: John Harbaugh (156-98)

Bisciotti grew up a Colts fan in Baltimore, founded a staffing company that made him wealthy, and bought a minority stake in the Ravens before the 2000 Super Bowl-winning season. After buying out majority owner Art Modell in 2004, Bisciotti bucked convention by hiring as his head coach Harbaugh, who had never been a coordinator on offense or defense at any level. Only the Patriots, Steelers and Packers own a better record than the Ravens since Harbaugh’s hiring.

3. Art Rooney II, Pittsburgh Steelers: 67-42-2 (.613)

Owner since: 2017

Playoff record: 0-3

Coach inherited: Mike Tomlin

Coaches hired: None

Rooney became team president in 2003 and became majority owner after his Hall of Fame father, Dan Rooney, died in 2017. The Steelers have transitioned to a new general manager, Omar Khan, during that time, but otherwise have made few important changes.

2. Gayle Benson, New Orleans Saints: 59-35 (.628)

Owner since: 2018

Playoff record: 2-3

Coach inherited: Sean Payton

Coaches hired: Dennis Allen (12-17)

Benson took control of the team when her husband, Tom, died before the 2018 season. The Saints went 38-10 in her first three seasons before entering the current transition period following Drew Brees’ retirement. She could face a crossroads this offseason in determining what course to set for the long-term future.

1. Robert Kraft, New England Patriots: 319-160 (.666)

Owner since: 1994

Playoff record: 33-16 (6-4 in Super Bowls)

Coach inherited: Bill Parcells

Coaches hired: Pete Carroll (27-21), Bill Belichick (265-118)

Kraft inherited and hired high-end coaches, saved his franchise from leaving town, became a leading confidant for commissioner Roger Goodell and influenced league policy at the highest levels, especially when he helped broker the 2011 labor agreement.

With six Super Bowl victories in 10 appearances, it’s easy to see why Kraft has been a finalist for the Hall of Fame.

(Illustrations: John Bradford / The Athletic; Photos of David Tepper, Gayle Benson and Jeffrey Lurie: Perry Knotts, Todd Kirkland, Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

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