The NFLPA is now prohibited from publicizing public report cards that provided annual grades of the 32 NFL teams’ amenities and staffs. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
The NFL won a grievance regarding the NFLPA’s annual report cards, prohibiting their release from the players’ union, the league confirmed Friday.
The union started conducting and distributing the results of the anonymous player surveys, which lead to assignments for letter grades for NFL teams, in 2023.
The most recent report cards, which asses teams’ treatment of families, food, nutrition, locker rooms, training rooms, training staff, weight rooms, coaching, travel and ownership, were released last February.
The league said the arbitrator found that the publication of the report cards violated the collective bargaining agreement.
NFL attorneys issued a memo on Friday to all 32 teams, citing the union’s witness and counsel characterizing the report cards as “union speech.” The memo also cited that the parties “admitted” the union “reviewed player responses and cherry-picked which topics and responses to include (or not) in the team report cards.”
“We are pleased with the decision from the arbitrator, upholding the parties’ collective bargaining agreement and prohibiting the NFLPA from disparaging our clubs and individuals through ‘report cards’ allegedly based on data and methodologies that it has steadfastly refused to disclose,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement.
“We remain committed to working in partnership with the NFLPA and an independent survey company to develop and administer a scientifically valid survey to solicit accurate and reliable player feedback as the parties agreed in the CBA.”
The Arizona Cardinals received the worst overall rating among NFL teams in the 2025 edition of the NFLPA report cards. The Miami Dolphins ranked No. 1 out of 32 teams.
The union said 1,695 players participated in the 2025 survey, providing “information to share with one another about their current club, to not only help them make important career decisions, but also help raise standards across the league.”
NFL attorneys said in their memo that the arbitrator for the grievance “did not find that the union’s independent survey necessarily conflicts with its obligation to conduct a joint scientific survey of players’ opinions regarding the adequacy of medical care under the CBA.”
The league’s management council plans to work with the union to conduct that type of survey in the coming seasons.
UPI Pictures of the Year 2025: Winning moments in Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates with teammates after the Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 to win the World Series in Toronto on November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
