NFL Players’ Injuries Aren’t the Only Terrible Aspect of Their Working Conditions
The National Football League Players Association just released team report cards. From petty payroll deductions to rat infestations, conditions for NFL players are surprisingly bad — an indictment on the greed and incompetence of billionaire team owners.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in the endzone at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, September 20, 2020. The Cardinals were the worst-ranked team in the NFLPA’s recent report on player treatment. (All-Pro Reels Photography / Flickr)
The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), the union representing professional American football players, released team report cards based on surveys completed by over 1,300 players. The reports covered a comprehensive list of seven factors that affect a player’s daily life: treatment of families, weight room, nutrition, strength staff, training staff, locker room, and travel.
Surely the wealthiest sports league in the country would be able to provide the absolute best for its players in all these categories, right? Think again.
The surveys revealed widespread dissatisfaction among NFL players and even some shockingly bad conditions. Players across teams consistently complained about the poor quality of their locker rooms, training rooms, and other essential facilities. Players also report feeling that the league disrespects them and their families in both blatant and subtle ways. For example, fourteen teams do not offer a family room, and eleven teams do not have day care facilities.