NFL vs. Players: Team Reports Under Scrutiny, Impact, and Reactions

NFL Seeks to End Annual NFLPA “Report Cards,” Players Back Survey

The NFL is trying to end the annual evaluations conducted by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). However, players across the league expressed their support for the survey, highlighting tangible improvements since its implementation.

I think it’s a great assessment of how the players really feel. It’s objective, especially for the people who are in the buildings every day. I don’t want to disrespect the National Football League, but a lot of those people sit in offices and there are people who are doing these reports who are living, breathing, eating, sleeping, working, all the time, who are in these buildings every day. It’s an excellent way to be transparent and an excellent way to keep everyone accountable.

Kelvin Beachum, Offensive Tackle for the Arizona Cardinals

The NFL filed a complaint against the players’ association, alleging that the evaluations violate a clause in the collective bargaining agreement that states that NFL owners and the union must “make reasonable efforts to reduce public comments from club personnel or players expressing criticism of any club, its coach, or its operation and policy.” The latest evaluation, published in February, collected responses from 1,695 players across the league, surveyed between August 26 and November 20, 2024. The surveys evaluate various aspects, from the head coach to team travel and the locker room. The NFLPA reported that the responses were collected anonymously.

The fact that there is resistance shows that it is working.

10-year veteran, who requested anonymity

Despite the league’s objections, the NFLPA is moving forward with this year’s survey. In an email sent to players, the NFLPA stated that the survey is an effective tool for comparing workplace standards and helping players make informed career decisions.

The survey revealed significant improvements in several teams.

• The Los Angeles Chargers moved up from 30th to fifth after building a new training facility.
• The Washington Commanders climbed to 11th from last place, largely due to improvements in travel, food, family, and childcare.
• The Atlanta Falcons advanced from 25th to third thanks to improvements in the gym, locker room, and dining areas.

Players who spoke with Alofoke Deportes suggest that the evaluations are having a positive impact on working conditions. Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, also NFLPA vice president, added: “I think stopping this is like hiding something.”

Description: Screenshot of the grades of some teams in the NFL Players Association’s 2024 team evaluation, published in February 2025. The responses were collected in the fall of 2024 and 1,695 players from across the league responded to the union’s survey.The Cardinals revealed a plan to invest approximately $100 million in three years to build a new training facility after receiving low grades in the 2025 evaluation. The Cardinals finished 32nd in the surveys conducted during the 2024 season, receiving an F-minus for the locker room and a D-minus for the training room, as well as a D-plus for the treatment of families and a D-minus for the dining area. Michael Bidwill received a D-minus and ranked 30th out of 32 team owners. Cardinals players believe that the plans for a new training facility are the direct result of feedback presented in the evaluations.

Without a doubt. It’s about transparency and responsibility. But I think that with anyone, if there are things you want to change and you present them to your employer, I think it’s up to your employer to be able to take part of that information to be able to make changes. And our employer has done a phenomenal job taking the information that was said and doing something about it. We’re talking about the weight room. [Bidwill] fixed the weight room. It’s not that complicated.

Kelvin Beachum

Other teams, including the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets, have updated their locker rooms since the first round of evaluations was published in 2023. In July 2023, Harris bought the Commanders, received an A, and ranked eighth out of 32 teams in the ownership category of the 2025 evaluation. Although the players gave their locker room an F when the survey was conducted during the 2024 season, Harris’s average rating for his willingness to invest in the facilities was 9.24 out of 10. In July, the Commanders presented locker room renovations that had been underway since the end of the 2024 season.

When players express their opinion, it’s important because they are giving an honest opinion about what should be changed organizationally. And at the end of the day, you want your players, coaches, and staff to be in a comfortable environment where they want to come to work.

Quentin Lake, safety for the Los Angeles Rams and NFLPA representative

Property sources have said they value the evaluations, but feel that, because the union issues only general ratings and not specific comments, they serve as an instrument to make fun of the teams without telling them which areas need improvement.

I could make you better, but they don’t share how. They just take snippets to shame people without sharing the data.

Team Executive

The NFL states that, according to the CBA, the league and the union already agree to conduct a joint player survey every three years “regarding the adequacy of player care and other relevant issues”. Players appreciate the visibility that comes with the publication of evaluation ratings and believe that it creates accountability and also gives players a better idea of what’s happening in the league.

Public pressure is the best part of our survey.

Joel Bitonio, offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns

The Bengals received an F-minus for their treatment of families in the February evaluation. This season, Bengals players’ families can drop off their children before the game, receive updates from childcare providers, and pick them up in the final quarter or after the game. Some players acknowledged that the union’s survey process could be refined.

I’m sure there will be changes over time, but I think it’s important that we try to continue to have the opportunity for the guys to hear their real feedback in some way.

Calvin Anderson, veteran offensive lineman

For the players who spoke with Alofoke Deportes, managing the polls and publishing the results is similar to the evaluation process applied to them by their own team officials.

We are graded all the time. We are graded every day, whether in practice or during the game. It’s interesting that now they don’t want evaluations about their organization and things like that to come out. That’s like, for me, it’s a little disappointing because as players, our job is to be graded, but then, when we are asked to grade something, they say: ‘Mmm, no’.

Quentin Lake