Washington Commanders Report Card 2023

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Overview

The Washington Commanders are ranked 32^nd (last) in our team guide. Besides the strength coaches who received great feedback and grades as one of the best groups in the league, the rest of the club’s operations and facilities were rated by player respondents at the bottom of every single category.

The locker room does not have confidence that club owner Dan Snyder is willing to invest to upgrade the facilities, as player responses rank him 31^st in this category.

Players had significantly more concerns with each area of the facility than the player respondents on any other team. For example, they were the team most consistently identified as having an understaffed training room.

Players also reported that they have some of the smallest hot and cold tubs for players’ recovery, and only 35% of players feel like they have enough personal space in their locker room. Finally, there are complaints of a lack of warm water and issues with poor drainage in the showers.

Only 22% of players feel like they have enough space on team flights. The Commanders are one of six teams in the NFL that make a segment of their players have roommates before games and one of seven teams in the NFL that do not offer their players first class seats.

Breakdown of Key Categories

Support of Players' Families: Ranked 32nd

• The Commanders do offer a family room
• They are one of 11 teams that don't offer day care at the stadium

Post-Game Gathering Area: Ranked 32nd

Quality of food: Ranked 18th

• All three meals provided

59% of players feel there is enough room in the cafeteria.

The consistent complaint is that the weight room is much too small.

• 93% feel they have enough strength coaches

Players feel the strength coaches significantly add to their success.

• 100% of players believe they receive an individual plan (Ranked 1st)

Players feel that more space and more training tables are needed.

Staffing:

• 46% feel they have enough ATCs (lowest in the league)
• 31% feel they have enough PTs (lowest in the league)

Steam Room/Sauna

• There is a steam room (78% feel it is big enough)
• There is a sauna (65% feel it is big enough)

Tubs

• 45% of players feel they have enough hot tub space (ranked 28^th)
• 50% of players feel they have enough cold tub space (ranked 28^th)

Many players reported that they do not want to do their rehab here.

35% of players feel like they have enough space (Ranked 31st).

• Players want more personal space, better & bigger lockers, and more bathroom space
• Some players complained that there is a lack of warm water and poor drainage in the showers

• 22% of players feel like they have enough room to spread out

• One of six teams that make their young players have roommates

• One of seven teams that don’t offer any of their players first-class seats

During the last two years, the Board of Representatives has discussed ways to improve the information available to free agents making decisions about their prospective Clubs and decided to pursue the development of “Club Report Cards” that, while not a scientific survey, would report the quantitative and qualitative opinions of NFL players about their respective Clubs.

In connection with that goal, questions were sent to every player on the 2022 team rosters asking them their opinions about their Club’s facilities, certain Club personnel/coaches, and other work-related categories, such as Club’s treatment of families and team travel (players were not asked questions about any Club other than their 2022 employer). As a result of the confidential questionnaire, 1,300 players responded. There then was a qualitative follow up by the union, which resulted in the following “report card.”

The questions called for both quantitative and qualitative answers; for example: “Grade your weight room with 1 reflecting best rating, 5 reflecting lowest rating” and “What would you change about your weight room?” The numerical ratings for each sub-category of questions were tallied and averaged. The questionnaire also sought to elicit the opinion of players on some issues that have a direct impact on the quality of life for NFL players. These qualitative responses, which are inherently subjective, were reviewed and evaluated by the union and then factored into providing an overall rating that was intended to reflect player opinions.

Based upon all of this information, the rankings from Club to Club were determined by comparing how each Club graded in each category.

Finally, the Club Report Card includes an overview, which is a summary of the players’ responses and opinions about the Club workplace and specifically about how players perceived Clubs’ commitment to workplace issues.