INDIANAPOLIS — For the second consecutive year, the Miami Dolphins have been recognized as the top-ranked team in the NFL Players Association report card. The third annual iteration of this report card was released Wednesday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine, compiled during the 2024 NFL season with input from 1,695 players across all 32 teams. Following close behind, the Minnesota Vikings secured the second position for the second year in a row, while the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers rounded out the top five.
JC Tretter, the NFLPA's chief strategy officer, mentioned that the gap between the fifth and eighth-ranked teams was notably close. The Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers claimed the sixth through eighth positions, respectively. The survey evaluated 11 different categories within teams, including treatment of families, food/cafeteria, nutritionist/dietician, locker room, training room, training staff, weight room, strength coaches, team travel, head coach, and owner.
The report also highlighted the bottom-ranked teams in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers were ranked 28th, followed by the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and New England Patriots. The Arizona Cardinals finished in last place, dropping from their previous 27th position last year. Notably, the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers showcased significant improvements, with Atlanta rising from 25th to third and the Chargers moving from 30th to fifth, thanks to their new facilities.
The Washington Commanders, who were last in 2024, improved to 11th place under new owner Josh Harris. NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell emphasized the importance of responsiveness from owners, noting a 41 percent increase in A's across all categories compared to last year. Tretter highlighted that A-plus grades tripled, while D-plus and below grades decreased by 51 percent. The standard is rising, with team facilities offering more family-friendly amenities than ever before.
Owners Stephen Ross of the Dolphins and Zygi Wilf of the Vikings were ranked highest in ownership. The union divided the ownership survey into three subcategories: willingness to invest in facilities, contributions to a positive team culture, and commitment to building a competitive team. Owners at the bottom included Robert Kraft (Patriots), David Tepper (Panthers), Art Rooney II (Steelers), Michael Bidwill (Cardinals), and Woody Johnson (Jets).
Although not officially recognized by the league, the survey has driven improvements among team owners. As Josh Harris stated, "I'm not an F-minus guy." Peer pressure among owners, as noted by Howell, has contributed to these changes. Coaching also plays a role, with Dan Quinn and Raheem Morris receiving top marks as head coaches of the Commanders and Falcons, respectively.
