Overview
- Arbitrator Scott E. Buchheit ruled that public disclosure of the NFLPA’s team report cards violates the CBA’s anti-disparagement provisions and ordered the union to keep future results private.
- The ruling permits the NFLPA to continue surveying players and to share findings internally with members and clubs, preserving the program’s use inside the league.
- Buchheit rejected the NFL’s separate claim that the report cards conflicted with the CBA’s joint medical survey requirement, clearing the way for both surveys to coexist with agreed adjustments.
- In a memo to teams, the NFL accused the union of cherry-picking data and having staff write commentary, and said it will work with the NFLPA and an independent firm on a scientifically validated survey.
- Players and commentators criticized the decision’s impact on transparency, noting prior report cards spurred upgrades at some franchises, while recent editions ranked Miami first and Arizona last with about 1,695 participants in 2025.