You’d think winning a Super Bowl would mean everything is perfect behind the scenes, right? Wrong. Dead wrong. If you look at the NFLPA team report cards, you’ll see that the guys hoisting the Lombardi Trophy are sometimes the same ones complaining about "dingy" carpets, understaffed training rooms, and having to pay for their own dinner.
Honestly, the disconnect is wild. While fans are arguing about point spreads, players are arguing about whether their kids have a place to sit during home games. These report cards, basically a "Yelp for the NFL," have changed the game since they dropped a few years back. It’s not just locker room gossip anymore; it's a public shaming that's actually forcing billionaires to open their wallets.
Why NFLPA Team Report Cards Actually Matter to Players
Basically, these cards are a "Free Agency Guide." Before this started, a guy might sign a massive contract with a team like the Arizona Cardinals or New England Patriots and only find out after moving his whole family that the "state-of-the-art" facility actually has a weight room from the 1990s or a locker room that smells like a literal sewer.
The NFLPA (Players Association) surveyed 1,695 players for the 2025 release. That’s about 77% of the league. They rate their clubs on 11 specific categories, ranging from the quality of the food to how much they trust the owner. It’s anonymous, which is why the feedback is so brutally honest.
You’ve got guys like Raheem Morris in Atlanta getting an A+ because he actually listens to his players, while other coaches get shredded for being "time-wasters." It’s fascinating because it proves that winning doesn't always equal a good workplace.
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The Good, The Bad, and The Smelly: 2025 Standouts
The 2025 rankings brought some serious drama. Some teams are consistently at the top, while others seem stuck in the mud.
The Gold Standard: Miami and Minnesota
For the second year in a row, the Miami Dolphins took the top spot. They are basically the Google of the NFL. Everything is A-grade or better. Close on their heels? The Minnesota Vikings. They've been in the top two since these report cards started. Why? Because the Wilf family (owners) actually invests in the small stuff. Players in Minnesota gave them an A+ for treatment of families. That stuff counts when you're 300 pounds and exhausted after a game.
The Massive Leap: Washington Commanders
This is the biggest story of the year. Under the old regime (Dan Snyder), the Commanders were dead last. Two years in a row. They were the team with sewage leaks and no daycare. Fast forward to 2025 under Josh Harris, and they jumped to 11th overall. Harris got an A for ownership. It turns out that not being a "disgraced owner" and actually fixing the plumbing goes a long way.
The "How Are They This Bad?" List
- Arizona Cardinals: They finished dead last (32nd). Players still hate the facilities. They hate the food. They don't think Michael Bidwill wants to spend a dime.
- New England Patriots: Rank 31st. Imagine being the most successful dynasty in history and your players say the team plane is "too small" and has no Wi-Fi. One player called it the "worst thing." Robert Kraft is reportedly spending $50 million on a new facility, but for now, it's an F for team travel.
- Kansas City Chiefs: The Super Bowl champs? They finished 26th overall. Their owner, Clark Hunt, got an F-. Players feel the locker room is a joke and the weight room is barely passable. It’s kinda crazy that Patrick Mahomes is winning titles while his teammates are complaining about the training staff.
The 11 Categories That Define the Grades
The NFLPA uses a weighted scale to figure out the overall GPA of a team. It’s not just a vibe check; it’s a detailed census.
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- Ownership (15%): Do they care? Are they willing to spend?
- Head Coach (10%): Are they efficient with time?
- Facilities (Weight Room, Training Room, Locker Room): Is the equipment from this century?
- The "Human" Elements: Nutrition, Dietician, and Treatment of Families.
This last one—Treatment of Families—is where most teams fail. Only a handful of teams offer free, high-quality daycare on game days. In 2023, 11 teams didn't offer it. By 2025, that number dropped to three. That’s the "report card effect" in action.
The "Culture of Fear" and Other Surprises
The New York Jets are a mess on paper. They dropped significantly in the rankings, with players describing a "culture of fear" under Woody Johnson. When the union president, JC Tretter, highlights that specifically, you know it's bad.
Then you have the travel issues. The Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts still make their players sit in coach while the coaches sit in first class. Imagine being a 6'5", 310-pound offensive lineman squeezed into a middle seat for a four-hour flight while your position coach is sipping champagne in 1A. It’s a bad look.
Does This Affect Where Players Sign?
Absolutely. Agents are now using these report cards as leverage. If a player has two identical offers from the Dolphins and the Cardinals, they are picking Miami 10 out of 10 times. Why wouldn't you? Better food, better weights, and your family is actually treated with respect.
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The NFLPA team report cards have forced owners to realize that "prestige" only goes so far. You can't just point at the Super Bowl trophies in the lobby while the guys currently on the roster are complaining about bad smells in the showers.
What You Should Watch Next
If you're a fan or someone interested in the "business" of the league, keep an eye on the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills. Both teams are at the bottom of the travel rankings. Buffalo players gave travel an F-, which is wild for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Check your favorite team's specific grade for Training Staff. If they have a low grade (like the Patriots or Browns), expect more "preventable" injuries next season. It's a direct correlation that most people ignore.
Actionable Insight for Fans:
Don't just look at the overall rank. Look at the "Willingness to Invest" score for the owner. If that's an F, your team is likely stuck in a cycle of mediocrity because the guy at the top is cutting corners on the very things that keep players healthy and happy.
If you're following a team in free agency this year, keep the report card open in a tab. If they're struggling to land big names, the "locker room culture" might be the reason why.