Fins Top NFLPA Player Survey; Steelers Land at Bottom

For the third straight year, the Miami Dolphins were rated the highest overall in the annual NFL Players Association survey of active players, while the Pittsburgh Steelers landed in last place for the first time in the four-year history of the poll, according to a survey obtained by ESPN.

The survey, completed by 1,759 players who were on active rosters during the 2025 season, ranked all 32 teams across a wide range of categories, including ownership, coaching, locker room facilities, travel accommodations, and treatment of families.

The Minnesota Vikings finished second this year, followed by the Washington Commanders in third place.

In its assessment of the Dolphins, the survey noted, “Players consistently describe the organization as ‘the best in the NFL.’”

In stark contrast, the Steelers dropped from 28th last year to 32nd overall. The franchise received poor marks in multiple areas, including ownership’s “willingness to invest in facilities,” with players ranking Steelers owner Art Rooney II last among all NFL owners.

The survey also listed the Steelers’ home field as the lowest-rated in the league, a new category added this year, citing “inadequate maintenance and excessive wear from hosting local college and high school games.”

Players reportedly gave the Steelers’ locker room an F grade, noting that it “has only five bathroom stalls for the entire team,” and criticized the lack of updated recovery technology in the training room. Despite the overall poor showing, Pittsburgh’s training staff was rated first in the league, while strength coaches ranked last.

The Arizona Cardinals finished 31st, and the Cleveland Browns were 30th, continuing a trend of low rankings in recent years.

Unlike prior seasons, the NFLPA did not make full report cards public after the NFL won a grievance arguing that the surveys violated the collective bargaining agreement by “disparaging NFL clubs and individuals.” An arbitrator upheld that position, though the union said it plans to continue collecting responses even if report cards cannot be publicly released.

Spokespersons for both the NFLPA and the league declined to comment on the survey results, and a Steelers communications official said the team has not seen the report in its entirety.

Miami earned high marks for its home field at Hard Rock Stadium, ranking fourth overall largely because of player preference for its natural grass surface. The team’s head coaching grade slipped from an A+ to a B, a change attributed in part to concerns over scheduling, communication, and leadership — areas players identified as needing improvement under the new coaching staff.