NFLPA Survery: Is Clark Hunt Really the Worst Owner in the NFL Despite Chiefs’ Super Bowl Win?

NFL teams are once again receiving their report cards. And the grades, courtesy of members of the NFLPA, have been revealed. With 1,706 players participating in the surveys organized by the NFLPA, the practice is aimed at becoming an annual exercise. This year’s evaluations extended to include grades for the 32 head coaches, team owners, and even the team dietician/nutritionist.

It’s understandable if the team is performing poorly and the team hates its owner. Maybe the owner is responsible for the losses because he didn’t invest enough in training infrastructure or player well-being. But what reason could there be to hate your owner, even if you’re at the top of the league?

Clark Hunt loses team’s love and goodwill

Clark Hunt, the owner of the back-to-back defending Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs, has found himself on the receiving end of player criticism. The Chiefs gave him a resounding F grade in willingness to invest in team facilities. While head coach Andy Reid garnered an A+ from players, Hunt’s score reflects a stark contrast, indicating a loss of love and goodwill among the team.

The Chiefs’ overall ranking plummeted to 31st (from 29th the previous year) in a compilation of weighted categories, highlighting significant discontent. Notably, the team scored a D+ or lower in seven crucial aspects, including treatment of families, training facilities, nutrition, and locker room conditions, with Hunt receiving the lowest grade in ownership commitment to facility upgrades.

Players specifically cited Hunt’s failure to renovate the team’s locker room following their 2022 Super Bowl victory as a point of contention. The team is thoroughly dissatisfied with the owner’s investment priorities. If the Chiefs were at the bottom, which team owners did well on the survey?

Dolphins and Vikings owners top the list

The Miami Dolphins claimed the top spot as having the best owner in the NFL, dethroning the Minnesota Vikings from the previous year’s ranking. Despite finishing second overall in 2023, the Vikings retained their strong performance in specific categories like food/cafeteria and training staff. Notably, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross received the highest rating among NFL owners for his commitment to investing in facilities, contributing to Miami’s straight-A grades across the board.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals, who ranked 31st overall the previous year, made significant improvements, climbing to 27th place in 2023. The Cardinals’ enhancements included providing daycare and a family room, discontinuing player dinner charges, upgrading the weight room with new equipment, and addressing safety concerns by replacing the hazardous floor.

Could this be a wake-up call for Hunt? His team has held their side of the bargain. Now it’s Hunt’s turn.