The Kansas City Chiefs have seen plenty of on-field success in recent years, winning back-to-back Super Bowls and three of the last four editions of the NFL‘s biggest game.
The franchise did not receive such rave reviews in the NFLPA’s annual player survey on working conditions for the league’s 32 teams, however, coming in second-to-last among their counterparts in overall grade and at or near the bottom in several categories.
Kansas City Chiefs Receive Second-Worst Grade in NFL Report Card
“The Kansas City Chiefs come in second to last place among NFL clubs in this year’s survey,” the NFLPA wrote.
“The one bright spot for the team is head coach Andy Reid, who was the highest rated head coach in the NFL. Other than that, the players are frustrated by their workplace offerings, especially after the team’s sustained success in recent years.
“The responses identify major issues in two areas: quality of care and out-of-date facilities.
“The number one complaint when it comes to the facilities is the locker room. Though the players received actual chairs with backs to sit in at their lockers in response to last year’s feedback, it did not change the fact that the locker room is overdue for a renovation. What adds to the frustration is that management told the players that renovations would come after the 2022 season.
“The players went on to win the Super Bowl and when they arrived back at their facility for the 2023-2024 season, they realized the team never followed through with the promised renovation (other than adding chairs).
“The players’ issue with quality of care is mostly centered around the training room. The players feel that the training room is significantly understaffed, with only 43% of the team responding that they get an adequate amount of one-on-one treatment time.
“Players feel that the staff is unwilling to provide the necessary treatment to support recovery and performance; for example, players are not allowed to get preventative treatment (soft tissue work, other care) for soreness and day-to-day issues, a regular offering across the NFL.
“From the results, it is clear that there has not been a significant reinvestment back into the facilities even after consistent success. That has led to a high level of frustration among player respondents and reflects in club owner Clark Hunt’s ranking as the least willing to invest in team facilities among all NFL owners/ownership group in the opinions of the respondents.”
Here are the Chiefs’ grades and rankings for each of the 11 categories, as voted upon by the players:
- Treatment of families: D+ (18th)
- Food/cafeteria: C- (26th)
- Nutritionist/Dietician: F (31st)
- Locker room: F (28th)
- Training room: D (31st)
- Training staff: F (32nd)
- Weight room: C+ (23rd)
- Strength coaches: C+ (27th)
- Team travel: D (27th)
- Head coach: A+ (1st)
- Ownership: F- (32nd)
Those grades could be a detriment to the Chiefs’ player recruitment efforts when NFL free agency opens in two weeks, though money can often be the ultimate decider.
Still, this could make Kansas City’s pursuit of maintaining a roster capable of the league’s first three-peat more difficult.
Among the report’s findings:
- Chiefs head dietician Leslie Bonci received the second-worst grade in the league, with the major issues being that players feel like she is rarely present at the facility and just 37% of players feel like they got an individualized plan.
- Chiefs players feel the training room is significantly understaffed, and it also lacks the necessary equipment that is found standard in most other training rooms with only 48% of players feeling the team has enough full-time physical therapists.
- Chiefs head trainer Rick Burkholder was given the second-lowest overall grade of any in the league, with a league-low 43% of players feeling like they receive enough 1-on-1 treatment.
- A number of Kansas City players feel the training staff is not willing to provide support/treatment to all players.
- A majority of Chiefs players believe their facility is no better than offsite locations where they could train, making them one of five teams with similarly poor impressions of their own weight room.
- The Chiefs are one of seven teams that require some players to have roommates the night before a game.
- Kansas City head coach Andy Reid received a 9.77/10 grade from his players, ranking tops in the NFL, with 95% of players feeling he is efficient with their time. He also earned the sixth-highest grade in terms of players feeling he is willing to listen to the locker room.
- Chiefs owner Clark Hunt received a 4.9/10 rating from KC players when considering his willingness to invest in facilities, ranking dead last in the league.
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