NFL Wins Grievance to Ban NFLPA Team Report Cards

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The NFL has successfully challenged the NFLPA's annual team report cards, where players anonymously graded their organizations on various aspects. An arbitrator ruled that the report cards violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) due to concerns over the lack of transparency in the methodology and potential bias in the reporting. While the report cards are now banned, the NFL and NFLPA will work together to establish a new system for gathering player feedback on healthcare and facilities.

Why it matters

The demise of the report cards raises questions about the balance of power between the NFL and the NFLPA. While the report cards provided a public platform for player concerns, their subjective nature and questionable methodology ultimately undermined their credibility. The focus now shifts to establishing a more robust and objective system for assessing team environments that adheres to the CBA.

The details

The NFL's primary concern centered around the lack of transparency in the report card methodology. According to the league, the NFLPA refused to disclose how the grades were determined. The NFL argued the reports were more about disparaging clubs than providing an accurate representation of team environments. Evidence presented during the grievance proceedings revealed that the NFLPA was selectively choosing data and responses to support pre-determined narratives, and players reportedly had no direct input into the final commentary included in the reports.

• The arbitration ruling was made on February 13, 2026.

What’s next

The NFL and NFLPA will continue working together to design a new system for gathering player opinions on healthcare adequacy and facilities. The goal is to ensure accurate and reliable feedback, avoiding the perception of a one-sided communication tool.