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Breaking Down the Smallest Market Teams in the NFL

Here are the smallest market teams in the NFL – broken down by market size, franchise value, payroll, stadium capacity, and more.

A Green Bay Packers fan wears a cheese head with the word "OWNER" written on the side. Green Bay tops our list for the smallest market NFL teams.
Credit-AP/Joker Mag

The National Football League commands the largest broadcast viewership in all of sports. The phrase “any given Sunday” speaks to the parity in the league.

On the gridiron, the underdogs always have a chance.

Unlike baseball’s small market squads, an NFL team’s competitiveness has little to do with the size of its market.

While hotbeds like New York and LA command a ton of media attention, any NFL team can make a run at the Lombardi Trophy in any given season.

There are a few reasons for this:

  • Quarterback is by far the most important position. If a team chooses the right signal-caller, the rest falls into place.
  • The worst teams from the previous year get the earliest draft choices, giving them a better chance to kickstart a rebuild.
  • With over 850 college football programs in the country, teams have plenty of options to find talent at every division level.

Here are the smallest market teams in the NFL – broken down by market size, franchise value, payroll, stadium capacity, and more.

1.) Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are the smallest market Team in the NFL. Market size: 476,000 people.

Market Size: 476,00 people

Stadium Capacity: 81,441

2024 Payroll Rank: 18th of 32

Franchise Value: $5.6 billion (13th of 32)

The Green Bay Packers are the smallest market NFL team with a market size of 471,000 people. In fact, Green Bay is the smallest major league professional sports market in North America.

And while their media market includes the greater Green Bay area, the city alone only contains 107,015 people. That means Lambeau Field can hold 76% of Green Bay’s entire population!

But despite their minuscule market, the Packers boast the Cheeseheads – one of the most devoted fanbases in all of sports. And with four Super Bowl Championships – the trophy is named after the Packers’ legendary coach – this franchise is small but mighty.

2.) Buffalo Bills

A quote from Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen: “If you didn't want to believe in me, that's OK, because I'll make a believer out of you.”

Market Size: 641,000 people

Stadium Capacity: 71,608

2024 Payroll Rank: 5th of 32

Franchise Value: $4.2 billion (30th of 32)

Regardless of their size, Bills Mafia comes out in full force every time their team is in town.

Buffalo has made it to the Super Bowl four times, but they have yet to capture that elusive Lombardi Trophy.

But with a young MVP-level quarterback at the helm, the fanbase is hopeful their time will come sooner than later.

Heading into the playoffs, NFL pundits seem to think Patrick Mahomes is the biggest obstacle to a Buffalo Super Bowl run.

3.) New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are the 3rd smallest market team in the NFL.

Market Size: 672,000 people

Stadium Capacity: 74,295

2024 Payroll Rank: 7th of 32

Franchise Value: $4.4 billion (28th of 32)

Despite playing in the third smallest NFL market, the Saints enjoyed many fruitful years with Drew Brees and Sean Payton running the show.

But as the franchise enters a new era, change is in the air.

Can New Orleans make a run at a second Super Bowl ring? Or will they remain in limbo, searching for a new face to lead them back to the promised land?

Regardless, “Who Dat Nation” will be there to support their squad.

RELATED: How a Budweiser Truck Driver Became an NFL All-Pro for His Hometown Saints

4.) Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. says “I want the LSU fans to remember me as one of the best to come through the program. One of the Ja’Marr’s (Chase), Justin’s (Jefferson), Odell’s (Beckham Jr.). I still have a lot of proving to do to be able to be recognized as some of those players.”

Market Size: 799,000 people

Stadium Capacity: 67,164

2024 Payroll Rank: 16th of 32

Franchise Value: $4.6 billion (26th of 32)

The Jaguars came in hot upon their arrival to the NFL in 1995 – making the playoffs in four of their first five years of existence. Since then, they’ve struggled to find an identity.

Most recently, their 2017 lockdown defense led them all the way to the AFC Championship.

Despite their struggles in recent years, there have been a few glimmers of hope. One of which is first-round receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

“He’s just been such a bright spot,” Doug Pederson said.

“He’s been a workhorse offensively. There’s a lot of people we depend on and count on, but for a young player, he’s someone that you can dial the ball up and chances are he’s going to find a completion.”

With a new offensive star in the fold, the passionate Jacksonville fanbase is hoping for a ring.

5.) Las Vegas Raiders

The 2024 Las Vegas Raiders rank dead last in total payroll. 2024 payroll rank: 32 of 32.

Market Size: 889,000 people

Stadium Capacity: 71,835

2024 Payroll Rank: 32 of 32 (lowest in the NFL)

Franchise Value: $6.2 billion (6th of 32)

The Raiders’ last Super Bowl victory came in 1983 when the team was based in Los Angeles.

They’ve since gone through two more cities – Oakland and now Las Vegas – without the same level of success.

Raider Nation is hungry for a ring, but their wishes haven’t materialized on the field.

Now with seven-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady joining as a minority owner, the fan base has a reason for hope.

RELATED: D3 Football Players Who Made It to The NFL

More small-market NFL teams:

  • Cincinnati Bengals (6th smallest market, lowest franchise value)
  • Kansas City Chiefs (7th smallest market)
  • Baltimore Ravens (8th smallest market)
  • Pittsburgh Steelers (9th smallest market)
  • Tennessee Titans (10th smallest market)
  • Indianapolis Colts (11th smallest market)
  • Carolina Panthers (12th smallest market)

Editor’s Note: All data is accurate as of December 17th, 2024.

More from this series:

Do you like rooting for the teams and players counted out by the masses? Then you’ll love our Underdog Newsletter where we highlight under-the-radar players and overlooked stories happening in sports. Join here 👇

Written By

Division III baseball alum (McDaniel College) and founder of Joker Mag. Being cut from my baseball team in 7th grade could have ended my athletic journey. Instead, I found hope in stories of undersized athletes who defied expectations. I ultimately played baseball through college, earning Honorable Mention on the All-Centennial Conference team in my senior season. This experience inspired me to create the world's first digital media platform dedicated to inspiring underdog stories. Since launching in November 2017, my work has been featured on platforms such as FOX Sports, SB Nation, and The Sporting News, reaching over 1.5 million readers world wide.

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