The NFL shared $8.78 billion in national revenue with its 32 teams this past season.
That number became clear on Friday when the Green Bay Packers, the league’s only public team, reported that its cut of the national revenue was $274.3 million. Each of 32 teams split that amount equally.
The national revenue has increased 33 percent since 2013, factoring for inflation, considering that each team received $187.7 million that year.
Last year, the Packers spent more money on personnel than ever before, thanks to having to pay quarterback Aaron Rodgers $67 million in the first four months of his deal. That resulted in the team’s net income coming in 78 percent lower than last year.
Also included in the Packers' numbers are their investment in Titletown, the real estate development surrounding Lambeau Field, which Packers president Mark Murphy says is performing up to expectations, but isn’t yet profitable nearly two years after launch.
The Packers said they made concussion settlement payments as is required by every team, but the franchise did not disclose how much it paid. Almost $500 million had been paid to players through May, according to a recent claims report.
On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the league is looking into having 18 regular season games, but perhaps making a rule that players could only play in 16 of them. As part of this, the league would trim the preseason from four to two games.
“What we do know is our current preseason is not a good product,” Murphy said. “Our players don’t need four games and it seems like fewer starters are playing in them. Maybe another way to do this is to add one neutral site game and one international one for every team, so we can use this to grow the game.”
Having more substantive games could also increase rights fees. Preseason games are, for the most part, broadcast locally. If two more games actually counted, under current rates, ESPN, Fox, CBS and NBC would pay approximate $500 million more per year combined.
