Results of the controversial NFL Players Association report cards leaked Thursday, 13 days after the league won a labor grievance that prevented the union from publicly releasing them.
ESPN first reported a portion of the 2026 NFLPA report cards on Thursday, then released the full grades for all 32 teams later that afternoon. Other media outlets have since reported on some of the results.
Developed from player surveys, the report cards have become an annual hot topic since their debut in 2023. Typically released around the NFL Scouting Combine, it was anticipated that some or all of this year’s results could leak this week as teams and draft prospects gather in Indianapolis.
The annual report cards issue letter grades, ranging from A+ to F-, to each team across a wide range of franchise operations, including training facilities, the quality of coaches and support staff, travel conditions, and how player families are treated.
The NFLPA has not commented on the reveal of the 2026 results. In a memo sent to teams obtained by former Washington Post NFL reporter Mark Maske, the league expressed frustration with the survey’s results being leaked while noting “admissions” the union made regarding its survey during the grievance process.
“Given these significant admitted limitations, we continue to recommend that Clubs prioritize feedback and information provided directly by their own players rather than relying on the NFLPA’s agenda-driven exercise,” the league said. “We further recommend that Clubs refrain from commenting or engaging publicly on the alleged survey and Report Card results. Doing so only provides credibility to the union’s media campaign.”
Survey Says
Highlights from this year’s report cards include the Dolphins ranking first overall for the third consecutive year, and the Steelers finishing last for the first time.
The top and bottom three ranked teams in the survey are:
- 1st: Dolphins
- 2nd: Vikings
- 3rd: Commanders
- 30th: Browns
- 31st: Cardinals
- 32nd: Steelers
The report cards are based on responses from 1,759 players across the NFL, up slightly from 1,695 a year ago. This year’s survey was conducted from Nov. 2 to Dec. 11.
