The grades are in for the Patriots.
As soon as once more, they aren’t fairly.
The Patriots ranked twenty sixth out of 32 franchises, in line with a duplicate of their 2026 NFL Gamers Affiliation report card obtained by the Herald’s Doug Kyed.
The report card, which grades groups primarily based on the outcomes of greater than 1,700 participant surveys taken across the NFL, charges the Patriots’ journey, weight room, coaching room and cafeteria among the many worst within the league. General, although, the Patriots made enchancment from a 12 months in the past once they graded out because the second-worst franchise within the NFL.
From the workforce’s report card: “Whereas the workforce has persistently ranked among the many lowest within the league, gamers observe indicators of progress. A brand new facility is scheduled to open for the 2026 season, which is anticipated to handle the workforce’s present facility shortcomings, together with bottom-5 scores for the burden room, coaching room and apply fields.
“The Patriots’ journey stays a big concern. The workforce airplane ranks final within the league, with gamers citing outdated circumstances, lack of Wi-Fi and inadequate area, with one participant describing the airplane as feeling ‘borderline unsafe.’ Gamers additionally report ongoing points with the meals program, which receives low scores for high quality, selection, and dietary worth resulting from reliance on offsite-meal preparation.”
The Patriots obtained greater marks this 12 months for remedy of households and training, with gamers crediting first-year coach Mike Vrabel for establishing a greater tradition.
Listed here are the Patriots’ full grades and rankings in every class:
Remedy of households: B, twelfth
Meals/Eating space: D+, twenty ninth
Nutritionist/Dietician: B, twenty sixth
Locker room: C-, twenty first
Coaching room: C-, twenty eighth
Coaching workers: B, twenty fourth
Weight room: C-, thirty first
Power coaches: A-, twenty fourth
Crew journey: F, thirtieth
Head coach: A, eighth
Possession: B-, twenty fourth
Place coaches: B-, twenty eighth
Offensive coordinator: A, third
Defensive coordinator: B, twenty third
Particular groups coordinator: B+, twenty fourth
Common supervisor: B+, twenty second
House recreation discipline: D, twenty second
Vrabel was praised particularly for his effectivity and willingness to take suggestions from gamers. He additionally graded top-10 in apply group and participant improvement.
The NFLPA launched particular assistant coach scores for the primary time this 12 months. Josh McDaniels obtained by far the very best marks amongst his colleagues.
Yr-to-year, possession jumped from a D to a B-, although the Krafts nonetheless completed bottom-10 by willingness to put money into the services. The Patriots’ workforce meals and eating fell to a D+ from a C, whereas the energy coaches jumped to an A- from a B after some personnel adjustments final 12 months. In comparison with different GMs, govt vice chairman of participant personnel Eliot Wolf obtained bottom-10 marks for participant improvement and remedy of gamers when injured or needing help, although his general scores cleared an 8.5 out of 10.
The Dolphins’ working circumstances ranked No. 1 within the NFL, adopted by the Vikings and Commanders. The Steelers fell to thirty second for the primary time within the four-year historical past of the survey.
The NFLPA didn’t publish the report playing cards public this 12 months after the NFL filed a grievance, claiming the survey violated the collective bargaining settlement. After an arbitrator sided with the league, the NFLPA was allowed to proceed accumulating responses however prohbited from making them public.
