The Pittsburgh Steelers received some disturbing news when the NFLPA grades were revealed. The team was ranked 32nd overall in the 2026 NFLPA player team report cards, placing them dead last among all NFL franchises. Even more alarming, the Steelers received “F” or “F-minus” grades in critical areas such as locker room conditions, team travel, treatment of players’ families, and the home field playing surface. Ownership was not spared either, earning a “D-minus.” The sheer number of failing marks highlighted systemic issues across multiple aspects of the organization.
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Steelers Team President Art Rooney II stands on the field while watching his team get ready for a regular season game.
The biggest concern for both fans and players was the sheer accumulation of failures. An “F-minus” for locker room conditions and home field, an “F” for treatment of families and team travel, and the overall last-place ranking painted a bleak picture of the organization’s current state. For a franchise with the Steelers’ history and reputation, being at the very bottom of the NFLPA grading scale was more than a disappointment. The grades clearly indicated that urgent action was needed to restore standards and protect the team’s culture.
Speaking on his podcast, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger addressed the crisis directly. He offered clear guidance for Team Owner Art Rooney II, laying out actionable solutions to improve the failing grades. Roethlisberger’s approach focused on just one big and tangible change emphasizing that leadership must step up to reverse the team’s downward trend. His insight sent a strong message that the Steelers’ legacy demands accountability and swift corrective action.
“I think too, sharing a building and a facility with the University of Pittsburgh,” Roethlisberger said. “That does not help either, and I am sure a lot of that is because it is UPMC. Pittsburgh Medical Center put a lot of money into that, so they have to share. We are sharing a cafeteria, obviously we have our own weight rooms and our own locker rooms, and the building is split in half. Then there are four fields, two of them are ours and two of them are theirs.”
Now here is where Roethlisberger really got interesting, as he offered advice that Rooney should take seriously. Roethlisberger explained exactly what Rooney should do to potentially change the players’ votes on these report cards and improve the Steelers’ grades in the future.Â
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Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and Team Owner Art Rooney II speak before a game in Pittsburgh.
This has been a recurring trend, with the Steelers consistently receiving poor NFLPA report card marks over time and Roethlisberger believes this may help.
“If they would have that facility with four fields somewhere like in Cranberry; somewhere out like here’s a five to ten acre spread, a compound just for the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Roethlisberger suggested. “Weight room about the same size and the locker room is about the same size. But it is just us. I truly wonder if there would be any different feelings. You know, it’s just ours where we don’t have to share. There is no train track running here or no river running there. It just feels like it’s more home, more space. I think about going to Buffalo or New England, where all of a sudden you pull into a housing development and then there’s the stadium, there’s the practice field, and that’s just your five to ten acre compound. I wonder if the voting would change much.”
Steelers NFLPA Grades Highlight Several Serious Issues
The Steelers’ dismal NFLPA grades have highlighted serious issues that cannot be ignored. Repeated failing marks show that improvements are needed in multiple areas, from facilities to player and family support. Roethlisberger’s insights provide a clear roadmap for Rooney to address these concerns.Â
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Steelers’ Art Rooney II speaks during his press conference at the end of the 2025 season.
Creating a dedicated, fully controlled facility could change not only daily operations but also player perception of the organization. If the team acts on these recommendations, future report cards may look very different. For a franchise with Pittsburgh’s history, taking decisive action now is essential to protect its reputation and maintain player trust.
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