As the NFLPA begins its fourth year of soliciting player feedback for annual report cards, a complication has arisen. The NFL has filed a grievance against the players union for administering the surveys, according to a copy of the grievance obtained by Yahoo Sports.
The league’s grievance stems from CBA clauses that prohibit publicly disparaging comments toward clubs and a possible interruption to the league and union’s jointly administered survey process.
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“Team Report Cards have included numerous comments disparaging NFL Clubs, owners, coaches and other personnel, and are published on the NFLPA website and distributed to other media outlets,” the grievance reads. “NFLPA executive staff also routinely give media interviews amplifying the disparaging comments.”
The NFL’s grievance alleges that “despite repeated requests to review the data or methodology, the NFLPA has repeatedly refused to disclose any support for its alleged ‘findings.’”
The league cited CBA Article 51, Section 6, that says the league and union should “use reasonable efforts to curtail public comments” or “express criticism” of a club.
The union alerted players of the grievance in a memo sent last week and obtained by Yahoo Sports.
“We wanted to inform you that the league has filed a grievance against us in an effort to stop us from releasing the annual report cards — but rest assured, we are moving ahead with this year’s survey and you’ll be asked to take it in the coming weeks,” the PA said in its memo. “We have responded to the grievance with our intention to fight against this action and continue what’s clearly becoming an effective tool for comparing workplace standards across the league and equipping you to make informed career decisions.”
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The union began surveying players for its 2025 report cards last week despite the grievance.
Article 39 of the collective bargaining agreement details players’ rights to medical care and treatment. In Article 39, Section 5, subsection IV, the NFL and NFLPA agree to “conduct a confidential player survey at least once every three years to solicit the players’ input and opinion regarding the adequacy of medical provided by their respective medical and training staffs and commission independent analysis of the results of such surveys.” Four subsections later, the groups agree to “coordinate public statements by the NFL, NFL Players Association, Clubs and other interested parties regarding football-related health and safety issues.”
The league expressed concern the report cards interrupted this process.
The NFLPA must navigate the grievance despite losing executive director Lloyd Howell this summer as well as chief strategy officer J.C. Tretter, who created the surveys during his stint as NFLPA president before returning in a staff capacity.
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The union garnered 77 percent participation in last year’s survey, a reflection of players’ belief that the report cards have created positive momentum. Reception among team officials have been mixed, with some including New York Jets owner Woody Johnson railing against what Johnson called a “totally bogus” process after Johnson received a failing grade for his management of the team.
“[It] was supposed to be according to the agreement we have with the league,” Johnson said in March. “It’s supposed to be a process [where] we have representatives, and they have representatives, so we know that it’s an honest survey.
“And that was violated, in my opinion.”
Others valued the feedback that seemed more honest as it granted players anonymity.
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“I’m a fan of the concept,” one high-ranking NFC executive told Yahoo Sports. “Anonymous feedback is always the best kind and valuable. The fact that they don’t share results with clubs or provide questions, data makes no sense.
“But I truly do think it makes clubs better and more accountable. And we should embrace that, if we are being honest.”
The PA emphasized during its February 2025 report card release that its goal was not to shame team owners but to motivate improved workplace standards. Teams have augmented their childcare services and family rooms on gamedays in response to report card feedback; a dozen teams have improved travel two or more grades by increasing player access to first-class seats on flights to games. Improved weight rooms, locker rooms and dining have been among reasons aggregate league scores have increased each of the years the union has conducted the survey.
“By doing your part in taking this year’s survey, you’re enabling your union to do its part to maintain this momentum and use your voice,” the union said in its memo. “As we have in the past, we will fight to protect the confidentiality and anonymity of your responses.”
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Reviews of the NFL collective bargaining agreement show multiple ways in which the league and union conduct joint research and jointly administer policies, including on topics relevant to the report cards such as playing surfaces (92% of players surveyed expressed a preference for playing on grass rather than turf, the union said in 2024).
When reached by Yahoo Sports, the NFL and NFLPA each declined comment.
