They always find out.
Students have tried for years to hide report cards from their parents after getting bad grades in school, but no forged signature is ever enough to prevent the truth from coming out. While the NFL won a grievance against the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) on Feb. 13 to prevent the annual release of ‘Team Report Cards,’ it wasn’t enough to stop the leak.
The Miami Dolphins ranked No. 1 in the report cards for the third consecutive season, according to the report that was obtained by ESPN. The Minnesota Vikings ranked second and the Washington Commanders rounded out the three highest-rated franchises for 2026.
There was a change at the bottom, however, as the Pittsburgh Steelers checked in at No. 32 for the first time in the report card’s four-year history. Pittsburgh received low marks, especially for facilities. The results included owner Art Rooney’s ranking last for willingness to invest in facilities and the Steelers’ locker room, which also received a failing grade.
The team’s field ranked last ‘by a wide margin,’ highlighting a need for more investment to increase the standard. Acrisure Stadium’s grass turf was the subject of discussion after it was particularly torn up during a Week 6 game between the Steelers and Browns.
Also ranking in the bottom-three were the Arizona Cardinals at No. 31 and Cleveland Browns at No. 30.
This year’s survey includes results from 1,759 players and it was open from Nov. 2 to Dec. 11.
The overall grades range from A-plus to F-minus across 17 different categories. Those categories are:
- Treatment of Families
- Home Game Field
- Food/Dining Area
- Nutritionist/Dietician
- Locker Room
- Training Room
- Training Staff
- Weight Room
- Strength Coaches
- Position Coaches
- Offensive Coordinator
- Defensive Coordinator
- Special Teams Coordinator
- Team Travel
- Head Coach
- General Manager
- Team Ownership
Players awarded only 15 A-plus grades across the league, with the Commanders receiving the most with three different categories. There were nine F-minus grades, with the Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals each getting one in two different categories.
It’s unclear how the league will react to the leak, since the grievance claimed that the report cards shouldn’t be released because they violated the collective bargaining agreement between the two parties. The ruling also barred the NFLPA from ‘publishing or publicly disclosing the results of future player Report Cards.’
Following the decision, the NFLPA said it would continue to collect the survey results, but wouldn’t release them.
Players, both current and former, were quick to criticize the grievance decision. Now those results have, at least in part, been revealed.
They just won’t be going on the fridge anytime soon.
