NFL Files Grievance Against Players Association Over Critical Report Cards

NEW YORK, NY — The NFL has filed a grievance against the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), seeking to stop the union’s annual team report cards. The league argues that the report cards violate the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) by publicly criticizing teams.

According to documents obtained by ESPN, the NFL claims the report cards, which solicit player feedback on various aspects of working conditions, contradict a CBA clause that requires NFL owners and the union to work together to limit public comments that express criticism of any club or its operations. An August letter from the league’s management council addressed to NFLPA general counsel Tom DePaso stated this concern.

Despite the grievance, the NFLPA informed players last week that it plans to proceed with the survey for this year. “We have responded to the grievance with our intention to fight against this action and continue what’s clearly become an effective tool for comparing workplace standards across the league,” the NFLPA wrote in a union email.

The annual report cards provide grades for franchises across categories such as treatment of families and travel conditions. They have proven controversial among some team owners. NFL executives argue that the general grades do not provide specific feedback, which could lead to constructive changes.

Jets owner Woody Johnson, who received an ‘F’ grade for his team, has been particularly vocal against the report cards. At a league meeting in March, he described the surveys as “totally bogus,” suggesting that the information collection process was flawed and did not properly represent all players.

The NFL management council has previously requested the NFLPA to halt the report cards, both in 2024 and June 2025, but the union has refused. Sources indicate that the league aims to bring the issue to an arbitrator in December, hoping for a resolution by February 2026.

The NFLPA maintains that the report cards have led to improvements in team conditions. In 2025, 1,695 players participated in the surveys, indicating a broader engagement with issues affecting their work environment. Some teams reportedly improved their family services and travel scores based on player feedback.

As the dispute continues, the NFLPA stands firm in its commitment to the players, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in improving the workplace.