NFLPA Survey: Miami Dolphins Excel While Pittsburgh Steelers Rank Last

The Miami Dolphins have secured the top position in the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) annual report cards for the third consecutive year, as revealed by survey results obtained by ESPN. The Dolphins were praised for their organizational culture, with players describing the franchise as "the best in the NFL." Following the Dolphins, the Minnesota Vikings ranked second, and the Washington Commanders placed third in the 2026 survey. The survey, which included responses from 1,759 players, evaluated franchises on various aspects such as nutrition, training facilities, and family support.

NFLPA report cards leaked, Dolphins rank first againESPN

In stark contrast, the Pittsburgh Steelers finished last in the survey for the first time since its inception four years ago, dropping from 28th place in the previous year. The Steelers received low ratings across multiple categories, particularly in facilities and player amenities. Notably, the team's locker room was graded an F, with players reporting inadequate bathroom facilities and outdated training equipment. The survey highlighted that Steelers owner Art Rooney ranked last in the league for willingness to invest in facilities, contributing to the team's poor ratings.

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The NFLPA's decision to withhold the report cards from public release followed a grievance filed by the NFL, which argued that the survey violated the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) by disparaging NFL clubs and individuals. An arbitrator sided with the league, stating that the survey's publication was not permissible. Despite this, the NFLPA has committed to continuing the collection of player responses for future surveys. NFL spokespersons have declined to comment on the survey's findings, maintaining that the league had no prior knowledge of the survey's details.

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The survey has faced backlash from some team owners, including New York Jets chairman Woody Johnson, who described the survey as "totally bogus." Johnson criticized the methodology of the survey, suggesting it did not accurately represent the players' views and violated the agreed-upon process for collecting information. Other owners, including Art Rooney of the Steelers, received low grades, with several expressing concerns about the fairness and balance of the survey.

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The survey results indicate areas for improvement within the Dolphins, particularly regarding new head coach Jeff Hafley, who will need to address concerns raised by players about scheduling, communication, and leadership. Meanwhile, the Steelers face a critical juncture as they seek to improve their standing in future surveys and enhance player satisfaction.

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• “Players consistently describe the organization as 'the best in the NFL.'” — NFLPA Survey

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• “The Steelers' locker room was graded an F. Players reported that it” — NFLPA Survey

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• “We are not going to comment on a report that we have not seen in its entirety," Steelers senior director of communications Burt Lauten told ESPN.” — Burt Lauten, Steelers Senior Director of Communications

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• “I'm going to leave it at that, but I think there are a lot of owners that looked at that survey and said this is not fair, it's not balanced, it's not every player, it's not even representative of the players.” — Woody Johnson, New York Jets Chairman

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