After the trials and tribulations of a grueling NFL season, the NFLPA has a yearly tradition. Each off-season, they take a survey from the players on every team about their franchise. While other factors are taken into consideration, the ownership group is also put under scrutiny.
This year, too, the survey was conducted, and the Miami Dolphins, for the second season in a row, walked away as the clear winners. They had the best rating for their owners. But which teams were on the opposite end of the spectrum? Let’s find out.
Worst Graded NFL Owners
10. Seattle Seahawks (C+)
For Jody Allen, the players weren’t fully buying into her contributions to creating the team’s culture or a competitive team. In both metrics, she ranked in the bottom half of the league, coming inside the bottom 10 for the latter.
However, she did have a solid rating for willingness to improve the team facilities, measuring 7.52 out of 10.
9. Los Angeles Rams (C)
While he wasn’t as popular as Allen when it came to the improvement of facilities, Stan Kroenke fared better in the other two categories. Whether it was building a team culture or a competitive unit, to begin with, he finished 19th among all 32 owners.
Just three years after winning the Super Bowl and being a perennial playoff threat, the criticism rang a tad hollow. However, with the loss of Aaron Donald and potential trades for Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford in the works, it’s safe to assume where the skepticism comes from.
8. Cincinnati Bengals (C)
Historically infamous to begin with, the Cincinnati Bengals were expected to fare behind in this department. When it came to improving facilities, Mike Brown wasn’t elite, but he wasn’t too bad, finishing 24th with a rating of 7.23.
However, a 26th-place finish in impacting the team culture and a bottom-five positioning in paying a competitive team meant that he finished as the eighth-worst owner in the NFL.
7. Kansas City Chiefs (C-)
Now, this one might come as a big surprise, but owner Clark Hunt wasn’t a popular name when it came to building better facilities. His 6.61 rating dragged him way down on this list, even with other metrics faring decently.
When it came to impacting team culture, he was in the bottom half but still finished 20th, whereas his willingness to empty his pockets for a contender left him 17th in the league, just out of the top half.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (D+)
A franchise that has historically been as despondent as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is never going to rank very highly on this list. But, a 6.5 rating to invest in facilities left the Glazer family just out of the bottom five teams.
When it came to building a culture in the locker room or supporting a large paycheck, too, the Glazers didn’t rank highly, finishing 27th and 26th in both metrics, respectively.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (D)
Consistent they might be, beloved they are not. Despite their regular playoff appearances, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t keep their players happy from an ownership perspective. Ranking 28th overall, their owners had a 6 rating when it came to investing in facilities, the third-worst mark in the league.
Beyond that, Art Rooney wasn’t a popular customer for team culture or for supporting an expensive roster, ranking in the bottom 10 of the league in both categories.
4. New England Patriots (D)
As famous as the Krafts might be, they are equally unpopular in their locker room. Robert Kraft was given a 6.15 rating for his willingness to improve facilities in New England, a bottom-five mark in the league.
When it came to building a positive team culture or supporting a roster to compete for Championships, Kraft was among the three worst owners, according to his players. But he did oversee the greatest dynasty in NFL history, so he must be getting something right.
3. Arizona Cardinals (D-)
Overall, the Arizona Cardinals finished last in the NFLPA poll. And some of it stemmed from their critiques of the ownership group. Michael Bidwill caught a lot of flack for not improving the facilities in Arizona, ranking second-to-last with a score of 5.9.
Simultaneously, he wasn’t given much credit for team chemistry or the roster itself, ranking 28th in the former and 27th when it came to building a competitive team for the Cardinals.
2. Carolina Panthers (D-)
The Carolina Panthers franchise has seen better days and might potentially see them again next season if Bryce Young can maintain his momentum and continue at the same pace. However, they’ll need some help from their owner.
David Tepper isn’t popular with his players when it comes to building team chemistry, ranking second-to-last in the league. But he is even worse at fielding a competitive roster, ranking dead last in the entire league.
Simultaneously, his willingness to improve facilities in Carolina isn’t high either, as he finished in the bottom five in that category with a 6.12 rating as well.
1. New York Jets (F)
I mean, is it really a surprise? The New York Jets have been among the worst franchises in the league for the past decade-plus when it comes to the W-L record. Through multiple iterations, the team hasn’t found consistent success or built an identity.
So, it came as barely a surprise that owner Woody Johnson was dragged through the mud by his players. When it came to developing facilities, he finished last in the league with a 5.58 rating. He was also last in terms of building a positive team culture.
When it came to fielding a competitive team, he didn’t finish last, but he wasn’t too far ahead as the second-worst in that category as well. All in all, it was a merciless beatdown of Johnson, grading him out to an F.
