NFLPA survey EXPOSES the NFL’s worst workplaces: New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals humiliated, Miami Dolphins reign supreme

The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) just dropped its annual team report card, and the results are exactly what you’d expect—or worse. The Miami Dolphins are still the gold standard for workplace conditions, while the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Jets continue to make life harder for their players.
This year, 1,695 players—covering 77% of active and practice squad rosters—graded their teams across facilities, travel, ownership investment, and overall treatment of players. The report now includes ownership grades, exposing which owners actually care and which ones treat their teams like a neglected Airbnb.
For the second year in a row, the Miami Dolphins ranked No. 1, proving they know how to take care of their players. The Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers rounded out the top five. The Falcons saw the biggest jump, moving from 25th to 3rd thanks to massive facility upgrades, a revamped strength staff, and head coach Raheem Morris scoring as the second-most liked coach in the league (right behind Dan Quinn).
The Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers also cracked the top eight with solid grades, proving that when ownership invests, players respond.
Meanwhile, at the bottom? The Arizona Cardinals finished dead last, followed by the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Ownership investment—or the lack of it—played a massive role in these rankings.
The Arizona Cardinals ranked 32nd overall, with players overwhelmingly calling their locker room too small. Only 24% of players said the space was adequate—the lowest approval rating in the entire league. The weight room didn’t fare much better, earning an F grade, ranking 31st overall.
Players also called for better meal programs and sideline passes for their families, which shouldn’t be complicated fixes. If ownership cares even slightly, this could be addressed in weeks. But Michael Bidwill has a history of cutting corners, and this survey confirms it yet again.
The New England Patriots finished 31st, and their biggest issue was travel. Only 39% of players said they had enough space on flights. The plane is so outdated that it still has ashtrays in the seats, and there’s no WiFi.
Owner Robert Kraft has started facility upgrades, including improvements to the weight room and locker room, but travel remains a glaring issue. It’s 2025, and the Patriots are still flying like it’s 1995. Players are expected to compete with teams like the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins while crammed into what sounds like a budget airline experience.
The New York Jets ranked 29th, falling eight spots from last year. According to players, this was an intentional move by Woody Johnson, who they say actively made conditions worse.
Players specifically called out team management for cutting the food budget and firing longtime dietitian Nicolette Mense, who was the highest-rated staff member in last year’s survey. She was immediately hired by the Kansas City Chiefs, where she helped boost their nutrition grade from an F to an A-minus.
Johnson also ranked last in owner grades, with players citing "top-down problems" and a lack of commitment to a positive culture.

The Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings continue to show what a well-run organization looks like, while teams like the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, and New York Jets keep failing the most basic workplace standards.
The biggest risers—Washington Commanders (32nd to 11th), Atlanta Falcons (25th to 3rd), and Los Angeles Chargers (30th to 5th)—prove that when teams actually listen to their players, conditions improve fast.
Meanwhile, at the bottom, the same problems keep showing up. Locker rooms are too small. Training facilities are outdated. Team travel is a mess. Ownership refuses to spend. If the Falcons and Commanders can fix these issues, why can’t the Patriots or Jets?
The NFL loves to talk about culture and accountability, but this survey shows who’s actually putting in the work—and who’s just talking.
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