NFL Files Grievance Against NFLPA Over Annual Team Report Cards

The National Football League (NFL) has filed a grievance against the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) regarding the union's annual team report cards, which evaluate franchises based on player feedback about various working conditions. The league claims that these report cards violate the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by publicly criticizing teams, coaches, and their operations. According to an August 2025 letter from the NFL's Management Council, the CBA mandates that both the league and the union "use reasonable efforts to curtail public comments" that express criticism of any club.

ESPNCBS SportsSports IllustratedOutKickNew York Daily NewsNBC SportsNFL news: League files grievance against NFLPA led by Woody JohnsonHeavy

Despite the grievance, the NFLPA has communicated its intention to proceed with the report cards for the current year. In an email to players, the union stated, "We have responded to the grievance with our intention to fight against this action and continue what's clearly become an effective tool for comparing workplace standards across the league and equipping you to make informed career decisions." The report cards, which have been released annually since 2023, provide letter grades on various aspects, including treatment of families, training facilities, and overall workplace environment.

ESPN

The grievance appears to be driven by dissatisfaction among certain NFL owners, particularly New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, who received an "F" grade for ownership in the latest report. Johnson has publicly criticized the report cards, labeling them "totally bogus" and questioning the methodology used to collect player feedback. He argued that the process should involve representatives from both the league and the union to ensure fairness and accuracy. Other owners, such as Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots and Art Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers, also received low grades, contributing to the owners' collective frustration.

Heavy

The report cards have been recognized as a significant tool for accountability within the league. They not only provide insights into player experiences but also serve as a catalyst for teams to improve their working conditions. For instance, the 2025 report indicated that nine teams improved their family services scores, and 12 teams enhanced their travel scores. However, some owners argue that the report cards lack specificity, claiming they serve more to embarrass teams than to provide constructive feedback. A team executive noted, "It could make you better, but they don't share how. They just take snippets to embarrass people without sharing the data."

OutKick

While some owners express disdain for the report cards, others acknowledge their value in highlighting areas for improvement. An anonymous owner remarked, "The only owners who don’t care for [the report cards] are the ones who get the subpar grades." This sentiment reflects a broader divide within the league regarding the utility and impact of the report cards.

Sports Illustrated

The NFL aims to have the grievance resolved by February 2026, with an arbitration hearing anticipated in December 2025. As the NFLPA continues to advocate for the report cards, the outcome of this legal dispute may significantly influence the relationship between the league and its players moving forward.

CBS Sports

• "We have responded to the grievance with our intention to fight against this action and continue what's clearly become an effective tool for comparing workplace standards across the league." — NFLPA

ESPN

• "It could make you better, but they don't share how. They just take snippets to embarrass people without sharing the data." — Team Executive

Bad NFL owners are furious NFLPA is allowed to call them out

• "The only owners who don’t care for [the report cards] are the ones who get the subpar grades." — Anonymous Owner

ESPN

• "It's supposed to be a process where we have representatives and they have representatives, so we know that it's an honest survey. And that was violated, in my opinion." — Woody Johnson, Jets Owner

Bad NFL owners are furious NFLPA is allowed to call them out