INDIANAPOLIS — While the Patriots saw improvements across the board in many facets of their annual player report card, they still came up short in some specific areas, it was revealed Thursday.
“The New England Patriots finish 26th in this year’s Report Card,” the report reads. “While the team has consistently ranked among the lowest in the league, players note signs of progress. A new facility is scheduled to open for the 2026 season, which is expected to address the team’s current facility shortcomings, including bottom‑five ratings for the weight room, training room, and practice fields.”
The report cards, obtained by the Boston Globe, has New England 26th out of 32 teams. That’s up from 29th as a franchise in 2024.
Head coach Mike Vrabel was given an “A.” (That’s up from a “B+” that was given to former head coach Jerod Mayo last year.) Vrabel, who was graded as the eighth-best coach, was praised for his efficiency with the players’ time and willingness to take feedback from players.
The NFLPA introduced specific assistant coach ratings for the first time this year. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels received an “A” (third overall), special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer received a “B+” (24th), while defensive coordinators Terrell Williams and Zak Kuhr were given a “B” (23rd). General manager Eliot Wolf was assigned a “B+” (22nd).
The strength coaches also got an “A-,” (24th) up from a “B” last season after a variety of personnel changes. In addition, team, owner Robert Kraft went from a “D” to a “B-“ (also 24th).
However, New England was given an “F” in team travel (30th), a “D” in home-game field (22nd) and a “D+” in food/dining area (29th).
Travel has been an issue for a couple of years, as last year, the team plane was given an “F” by players. In last year’s report, the NFLPA said, “Players want an upgraded team plane. The current plane is too small, there is no Wi-Fi available, and there are seats with ashtrays in the armrests. Players specifically responded that “our plane is the worst thing — size, space, safety,” and “it is not conducive to preparedness for athletic performance.”
“The Patriots team travel remains a significant concern,” this year’s report indicated. “The team airplane ranks last in the league, with players citing outdated conditions, lack of Wi-Fi, and insufficient space, with one player describing the plane as feeling ‘borderline unsafe.’”
And the Patriots’ food/dining fell to a “D+” from a “C” (29th).
“Players also report ongoing issues with the food program, which receives low scores for quality, variety, and nutritional value due to reliance on offsite‑meal preparation,” the report added. “Addressing both the airplane and food program are changes that would meaningfully improve players’ experience.”
It’s worth noting the Patriots continue to improve when it comes to treatment of families. After receiving an “F-” in 2024, they received a “B,” which was good for 12th overall.
“The team continues to show improvement in its treatment of families,” this year’s report said. “When asked what the team does best, players point to first-year head coach Mike Vrabel and the culture established by his staff.”
There was also improvement in the weight room. In 2024, the Patriots finished dead last with a “F,” as players said they did not feel like they had enough space to train, and the equipment was subpar.
This past season, it graded out with a “C-,” but it was still only 31st overall. The locker room grade of “C-“ stayed the same from 2024, but showed a slight drop from 20th to 21st overall.
The report card grades teams based on the results of more than 1,700 player surveys taken from around the NFL. Miami’s conditions were rated as the best in the league, followed by Minnesota and Washington. Pittsburgh finished last for the first time in the history of the survey.
There is no public explanation for this year’s grades unlike years past. Earlier this month, the NFL won a grievance against the NFLPA that the grades violated the CBA. After an arbitrator sided with the league, the NFLPA was allowed to continue collecting responses but prohibited from making them public.
Ben Volin of the Globe Staff contributed to this report.
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.
