Miami Dolphins Earn Top Honors in NFLPA Report Card
For the second year in a row, the Miami Dolphins have been named the best organization to play for, according to the NFL Players Association’s annual report card. The survey, which grades teams across 11 categories including treatment of families, head coach, ownership, training facilities, and travel saw Miami earn straight A’s, the only franchise to do so among all 32 teams. The Dolphins’ commitment to providing an elite player experience is evident in their top-tier rankings. They received A+ grades in seven categories, including food/dining, nutritionist/dietician, locker room, weight room, strength coaches, team travel, head coach, and ownership. Their treatment of families, training room, and training staff all earned A grades as well, solidifying Miami’s reputation as the gold standard in NFL operations.
When evaluated on a category-specific level, the Dolphins ranked first in food/dining, training room, training staff, weight room, strength coaches, team travel, and ownership. Even head coach Mike McDaniel, despite earning an A+ from his players, was ranked sixth among all NFL head coaches, with 98% of Dolphins players praising his efficiency and receptiveness to locker room feedback. These results stand in stark contrast to many other franchises. Half of the teams in the league received two or fewer A’s, and the New England Patriots and New York Jets failed to earn a single A. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles, despite winning the Super Bowl, ranked outside the top half of the report card standings.
Although the Dolphins have not won a playoff game since December 2000 and haven’t reached an AFC Championship game since 1993, their excellence in organizational operations remains unmatched. Owner Stephen Ross and CEO Tom Garfinkel have continuously invested in the team’s infrastructure and culture, making Miami the most desirable destination in the league from a workplace perspective. “The Dolphins retained their crown as the top-ranked team in the 2025 Report Card,” the NFLPA review stated. “Stephen Ross is once again the highest-graded owner and the team is ranked first in seven of the 11 evaluated categories. The quality of the facilities is matched by the quality of the people in the building, making for an extremely positive player experience. The team also renovated their gameday locker room at Hard Rock Stadium this summer. The stadium locker room is not an area evaluated in these surveys, but this is another example of just how committed the team is to provide an elite player experience.”
While the Dolphins excel in nearly every area, there is always room for improvement. Some players expressed a desire for a better home game hotel and more sideline passes for family members before games. However, these minor critiques do little to overshadow the overwhelmingly positive response from Miami’s players. Here are Miami’s full scores:
· Treatment of Families: A
· Food/Dining Area: A+
· Nutritionist/Dietician: A+
· Locker Room: A+
· Training Room: A
· Training Staff: A
· Weight Room: A+
· Strength Coaches: A+
· Team Travel: A+
· Head Coach: A+
· Ownership: A+
Miami’s dominance in the NFLPA report card rankings starkly contrasts with other teams. The rest of the top five teams this year included the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the bottom three teams were the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and Arizona Cardinals, with Arizona ranking dead last. The NFLPA worked with research experts at Artemis Strategy Group to conduct the survey, which took place from August 26th to November 20th, 2024, and included responses from 1,695 players. The survey featured both closed-ended and open-ended questions, with rankings determined primarily by scaled rating questions and qualitative responses. While Miami continues to chase on-field success, the franchise is setting the bar off the field. As the NFL landscape continues to evolve, the Dolphins' commitment to excellence in player experience and organizational culture ensures they remain a premier destination for athletes looking for the best work environment in professional football.
