Leaked NFLPA report cards reveal whether the Dolphins retained their title as the offseason champs in 2026
Hang the banner!
The Miami Dolphins aren’t winning as much as they’d like to on the football field these days.
And with a rebuild descending onto South Florida, it’s likely that trend will continue into 2026, as well. That’s the bad news. The good news? It is time to hang the proverbial banner as offseason champions yet again! The NFL Players Association conducts an annual survey of players across the league, gauging how all 32 franchises fare in a series of criteria as a team. It isn’t necessarily meant to highlight wins and losses, but instead how readily available resources are for players. This year’s report cards were leaked by ESPN this week — and the Dolphins are (once again) in the top spot.
Dolphins retain position atop NFLPA report cards in 2026
The Dolphins have been a staple at the top of these annual reports in recent years and they are once again ranked No. 1 in the NFL in 2026. Miami received A+ scores for the weight room and the strength coaches, but they also received an ‘A’ grade on the following variables:
– Food/Dining area
– Training room
– Training staff
– Defensive coordinator
– Team travel
– Team ownership
The lowest grade Miami received in any category was a ‘B’, which was given out to twice. Once to former special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman and the other to…head coach Mike McDaniel. Both are obviously no longer with the franchise.
Of course it is important to remember that these grades are not intended to be a performance review of the actual football team. But instead they’re meant to highlight how supportive these environments are for players — hence why the survey is conducted by the NFLPA. Among the highlights of Miami’s own status in the ESPN reporting of the story is the grass field at Hard Rock Stadium. It was referred to as a “quality grass field” that players preferred playing on. McDaniel’s regression as a coach was also touched on as well.
“Players identify scheduling, communication, and leadership as key areas for head coaching improvement, presenting an opportunity for [new head coach Jeff] Hafley next season.” Well then. Consider the gauntlet and challenge laid, Coach Hafley. Even amid the constructive criticism, the Dolphins will have this tool in their pocket to use when trying to attract free agency in the year ahead. And hopefully, with Jon-Eric Sullivan running the show, the types of free agents targeted will be a little more deliberate to make sure you’re not getting players to come play in Miami for all the wrong reasons.