NFL Wins Grievance Against NFLPA Over Team Report Cards

The league has successfully blocked the public release of player reviews of team facilities and resources.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The NFL has won a grievance against the NFLPA, preventing the players' union from publicly releasing its annual 'team report cards' that grade teams on the accommodations, facilities, and resources they provide to players. An arbitrator ruled that the NFLPA's conduct in publishing these report cards violated the collective bargaining agreement. While the report cards can still be conducted, they will no longer be made public, sparing some team owners from embarrassment over poor player reviews.

Why it matters

The Dolphins have consistently ranked near the top of the NFLPA's report cards in recent years, providing them a valuable recruiting tool to attract free agents despite the team's on-field struggles. The league's successful grievance means the Dolphins can maintain this advantage in player recruitment without the risk of negative reviews becoming public knowledge.

The details

An NFL memo informed all 32 teams that the league prevailed in its grievance against the NFLPA over the 'team report cards.' An arbitrator determined the NFLPA's publication of these player reviews violated the collective bargaining agreement and ordered the union to stop making them public in the future. While the report cards can still be conducted, they will no longer be released publicly, sparing embarrassment for team owners like the Jets' Woody Johnson who have received poor player reviews.

  • The NFL informed teams of the successful grievance on February 13, 2026.

The players

Woody Johnson

Owner of the New York Jets, who has criticized the NFLPA report cards after his team received poor reviews.

Stephen Ross

Owner of the Miami Dolphins, whose team has consistently ranked near the top of the NFLPA report cards in recent years.

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What’s next

The NFL's successful grievance means the NFLPA will no longer be able to publicly release its annual 'team report cards' that grade franchises on the accommodations, facilities, and resources they provide to players.

The takeaway

The Dolphins have leveraged their strong performance in the NFLPA's player-voted report cards as a valuable recruiting tool, despite the team's recent on-field struggles. The league's victory in blocking the public release of these report cards will allow Miami to maintain this advantage without the risk of negative reviews becoming public knowledge.