Steelers slammed in NFLPA survey about working conditions, team facilities
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INDIANAPOLIS — Pittsburgh Steelers players like the working environment created by head coach Mike Tomlin but don’t think much of ownership or the way their families are being treated on game days.
That was the takeaway from the NFL Players Association’s second annual team report card that was released Tuesday morning.
The Steelers ranked No. 28 overall out of 32 teams in a survey conducted from August through mid-November last season. The NFLPA said 1,706 players across all teams — 77% of the membership — participated in the survey.
The Steelers had a No. 22 ranking in 2023 when approximately 1,300 players filled out the survey, which is anonymous and done online.
The worst grades the Steelers received were an F for ownership and locker room and an F- for treatment of families. Conditions at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex also received low marks.
“The facilities are lacking,” said NFLPA president J.C. Tretter, the former Cleveland Browns center.
The Steelers received a top-10 grade in just one of 11 categories: coaching. Tomlin received an A and was graded No. 5 overall. The team’s strength and conditioning staff was given a B+ grade, which was strange considering the Steelers overhauled that department in the offseason. The cafeteria and quality of food received a B- grade.
The franchise was ranked No. 20 or lower in nine categories, including a No. 31 mark for team president Art Rooney II.
According to the survey, “there is little confidence among respondents in the willingness of club owner Art Rooney ll to invest in a better workplace.”
At his end-of-the-year media availability in January, Rooney II acknowledged the Steelers were trying to improve in many areas.
“We do look at what the benchmarks are around the country, what do players need to be successful these days,” Rooney said.
Tretter said the Steelers are hindered by sharing their practice facility on the South Side with Pitt.
“They are the only team that does that,” he said. “They don’t offer what is normal everywhere else, whether that is day care or a family room for teams.”
According to the survey, the Steelers are one of 12 teams that don’t provide a family room during games, one of seven that doesn’t provide day care and one of four that offers neither amenity for players.
Steelers players polled also wanted to see improvements made in the locker room, including more space and a replacement of the lockers. Players also believe the Steelers don’t have enough members of the training staff available at the facility. The Steelers ranked No. 27 in this category and No. 30 in the number of physical therapists on hand.
Tretter said this is a common concern for many NFL organizations.
“There is a significant under-staffing of training rooms in the NFL,” he said, referencing each team having four or five trainers for a 90-man offseason roster. “There is a definite significant decrease in the standard of care at the NFL level compared to other sports leagues. That is not a huge commitment of resources. It’s hiring one or two more trainers so players can get treatment or not stay at the facility waiting until 8 p.m. to get treatment.”
The weight room at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex also was viewed as poor by Steelers players, ranking No. 28 in the quality of equipment. The Steelers were one of six teams whose players felt the weight room facility was no better than if they decided to train off site.
The original survey in 2023 was confined to eight categories. Added this year were views on the head coach, ownership and nutrition/dietitian. Where Tomlin graded highly, Rooney ranked No. 31 in the survey.
On a scale of 1-10, Rooney received a 5.8 rating judging by “his willingness to invest in the facilities.”
“It’s never fun being graded poorly, but we have seen teams make significant changes. They took it to heart,” Tretter said. “This is not a shaming exercise. It’s pointing out what the standards should be.”