© Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
GLENDALE – The 2026 NFLPA report cards have been leaked, and the Arizona Cardinals were ranked 31st overall, with their track record barely improving from placing dead last just a season ago.
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Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort speak to the press from the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe after the decision to fire head coach Jonathan Gannon on Jan. 5, 2026. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
After finishing 32nd in last year’s NFLPA team report cards, they climbed to 31st this cycle, one spot higher, but still planted firmly at the bottom of the league. It’s also worth noting that the NFL recently prevailed in a grievance that prevented these report cards from being publicly released, though ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler obtained the official results.
Some of the NFLPA team report card grades have been leaked, via @kalynkahler:
Top 3:
1)Dolphins (3rd straight year)
2) Vikings
3) Commanders
Bottom 3:
30) Browns
31) Cardinals
32) Steelers
Pittsburgh got rocked because of its field conditions, among other categories.
Read… pic.twitter.com/7iXvP4WrtQ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 26, 2026
Sources: The NFL informed all 32 teams today in a memo that it prevailed in its grievance vs. the NFLPA and its “team report cards.” An arbitrator determined that the NFLPA’s conduct violated the CBA and ordered it to stop making public any future report cards. pic.twitter.com/mss5WUQjhF
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 13, 2026
For a franchise that just failed to try to reset its identity under head coach Jonathan Gannon, perception matters, but culture matters more. Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill has faced repeated criticism tied to previous report cards, from reports of players being charged for meals to complaints about outdated or inadequate facilities. In a league where elite franchises invest heavily in nutrition, recovery science, and family accommodations, marginal gains aren’t luxuries; they’re competitive advantages. In the past, Bidwill has called the report cards “totally bogus,” per ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler.
Dec 28, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Data across the NFL consistently shows that organizational stability and player satisfaction correlate with retention and free-agent appeal. The top-tier franchises around the league don’t just win on Sundays; they build it Monday through Saturday with infrastructure. For Cardinals fans, this is about how things can change. When a team ranks near the bottom in workplace evaluations for multiple years, it shapes how players view contract offers and long-term commitment. If real change doesn’t start at the ownership level, the Cardinals risk staying stuck in the standings that matter most, both on the field and off.
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill on the field before Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Malik Willis coming to the Arizona Cardinals is a real possibility
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
