The Buffalo Bills have built a reputation in recent years as one of the NFL’s most stable and competitive franchises. But in the NFL Players Association’s (NFLPA) 2026 player survey, that reputation took a direct hit in one glaring category: home field conditions. According to a leaked version of the annual report card, the Buffalo Bills received a flat ‘F’ grade for their home game field, a rock-bottom mark that stands in sharp contrast to the otherwise strong grades across the organization.
The annual survey, conducted from November through December and featuring participation from more than 1,700 players league-wide, evaluated everything from locker rooms and training staff to team travel and ownership.
For the first time, the Bills‘ home field conditions were graded as a standalone category. That addition exposed what many players have quietly discussed for years, with concerns about field quality and the physical toll of certain playing surfaces.
ESPN reporter Kalyn Kahler shared the worst home-field grades from the survey, noting that the Bills earned an F alongside the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.
The Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, and New York Giants reportedly fared even worse with F-minus marks.
The clustering of low grades among franchises with aging facilities or artificial surfaces has only intensified scrutiny around ownership investment and long-term planning.
Turf concerns at aging Highmark Stadium
In the Bills‘s case, the spotlight falls squarely on Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, which opened in 1973 and has long featured artificial turf.
Across the league, players have increasingly criticized synthetic playing surfaces, citing higher injury risks and increased wear on joints and soft tissue.
The NFLPA has previously advocated for wider adoption of natural grass fields, particularly as more data has emerged linking turf to lower-body injuries.
The F grade stands out even more given how positively players rated nearly every other aspect of the Buffalo Bills organization.
Treatment of families earned a B. The locker room received a B. The training room and training staff both scored B-plus. Strength coaches and the weight room were awarded A grades.
The head coach and general manager each earned A-minus marks, as did team ownership – a notable improvement from a B in the 2025 survey. Offensive and defensive coordinators also landed in the A and B ranges, reinforcing that football operations are viewed favorably internally.
But the home field F lingers like a red flag. It signals that while infrastructure and leadership may be respected, the literal ground beneath players’ feet remains a sore point.
The franchise is already in the process of addressing the issue. A new $2.2 billion stadium is under construction and scheduled to open for the 2026 season.
The venue will feature a natural grass surface with heated field technology designed to maintain the playing surface at approximately 60 degrees during harsh Western New York winters.
General manager Brandon Beane described the decision as rooted in a “player-centric” philosophy.
NFLPA barred from releasing report cards
Complicating matters further, the NFLPA was reportedly barred from publicly releasing the report cards after the NFL won a grievance ruling deeming the publication a violation of the collective bargaining agreement.
However, the results leaked regardless, ensuring that teams – and players – are fully aware of how each organization stacks up.
For the Bills, who ranked 23rd overall and received an F-minus for travel in the 2025 survey, the latest grade adds urgency. Ownership has invested heavily in the new facility with the expectation that it will reset perceptions.
If the grass surface and modern amenities deliver as promised, Buffalo could transform from one of the league’s lowest-rated home environments to a model franchise in a single offseason.
Until then, the F remains a blunt assessment from the people whose bodies endure the conditions every Sunday.
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