The Falcons have a complicated relationship with winning. The franchise has never captured a Super Bowl title, and in 2025 they missed the postseason for the eighth straight year. On the field, the last few years have been rough.
Off the field, the story looks completely different.
"Despite average performance on the field the last several years, our business has been really strong," Falcons CEO Greg Beadles told CNBC in late July. "We had our best business year that we've had last year, as a matter of fact."
That gap between on-field results and financial performance is exactly why private equity firms keep circling NFL teams. The league's economics have become so powerful that even a team with a losing habit can generate serious money. Blank still holds just under 73% ownership of the Falcons, and it is unclear whether the 10% being sold comes only from his stake or also involves limited partners.
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This deal is part of a bigger wave. According to two unnamed sources who spoke with CNBC, the private equity firm is purchasing a 10% stake in the franchise, with the transaction valuing the team at $10.6 billion on an enterprise basis. The anticipated $9.61 billion sale of the Seattle Seahawks, an NFL record, has helped push league valuations upward. That vote is expected later this month.
If the NFL approves the Arctos deal in October, it would be the firm's fourth investment in an NFL team. Arctos already holds stakes in the Los Angeles Chargers, the Buffalo Bills, and the Cleveland Browns. The NFL declined to comment on the Falcons deal, and the team and Arctos did not respond to requests for comment.
The numbers explain the enthusiasm. CNBC's September 2025 franchise valuations put the Falcons at $8 billion, which was 11th in the league. The new deal values the team at an enterprise value of $10.6 billion.
The Falcons are betting that new leadership can fix the football side. The franchise created a new role in January, appointing former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan as its president of football. They also brought in Ian Cunningham from the Chicago Bears as general manager and Kevin Stefanski as head coach.
For investors watching from the sidelines, the takeaway is simple. NFL teams have become some of the most valuable assets in the world, and the Falcons just proved it again. Blank bought the team for $545 million in 2002.
The deal still needs the league's approval, and that vote is not guaranteed. But if it goes through, it will be another sign that owning a piece of the NFL is one of the most sought-after investments in sports. The Falcons may not have a Super Bowl trophy yet, but their business is playing at championship level.
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