The Denver Broncos have made progress from a perception standpoint since the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group has taken over in their first two years. The NFLPA once again released their 2025 Report Card that received substantive responses from players about how they view the team and the various dynamics that make up their day-to-day and behind the scenes.
Denver Broncos 2025 NFLPA Report card ranks 17th out of 32 teams
After previously ranking 16th overall in 2023’s NFLPA Report card summary, the Denver Broncos ranked 17th in 2024. The report card grades are summarized by Treatment of Families, Food/Dining Area, Nutrionist/Dietician, Locker Room, Training Room, Training Staff, Weight Room, Strength Coaches, Team Travel, Head Coach and Ownership. We’ll see where Denver took steps forward from last year and where they took steps backwards.
Treatment of Families: C-, 23rd in 2024
Last year’s ranking: D+, – 21st in 2023
Reasoning:
The Broncos provide daycare during home games and a family room during home games.
- Players rate the post-game family area 7.27 out of 10, ranking them 18 out of 32 teams.
- The players feel that the team organizes family events a couple of times a year, which ranks 31 out of 32.
Players would like the post-game family area to be indoors so families, especially those with young children, can avoid hot and cold weather extremes in Denver.
Last year’s survey expressed frustration over the lack of a family room, and Broncos ownership looked at ways they could improve this by creating a family room inside of the stadium for after games, but sizing and space isn’t as adequate. This could be rectified if the team eventually plans on building a brand new stadium.
Food/Dining Area: B+, 10th in 2024
Last year’s ranking: B, 10th in 2023
Reasoning:
- The Denver Broncos rate the taste of their team’s food 8.89 out of 10, a ranking of 7 out of 32.
- They rate the freshness of their food 8.98 out of 10, a ranking of 9 out of 32.
- The players rate their dining area 8.88 out of 10, ranking it 12 out of 32 NFL team dining areas.
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Nutrionist/Dietician: A-, 6th in 2024
Last year’s ranking: B+, 7th in 2023
Reasoning:
- 94% of players report that they get an individualized nutrition plan, ranking the Broncos 6 out of 32 teams.
- The players feel that their team dietician is very accessible, a ranking of 5 out of 32.
This is an area of emphasis CEO Greg Penner listened to the players about upon new ownership coming on board. From a media perspective, this is something we have seen presently inside the building in Dove Valley.
Locker Room: F, 30th in 2024
Last year’s ranking: D, 26th in 2023
Reasoning:
- 56% of players feel they have enough room in their individual lockers, a ranking of 29 out of 32.
- 42% of players feel the locker room size is adequate, ranking the Broncos 30 out of 32 teams.
This is an issue that Penner and Denver Broncos ownership have taken note of, and they are in the process of improving with the new team facility that is currently under construction of being built. The locker room will be substantially bigger and will provide adequate space for players when it’s finished in 2026.
Training Room: B, 14th in 2024
Last year’s ranking: B-, 17th in 2023
Reasoning:
- 96% of Broncos players feel they have enough full-time trainers, ranking them 5 out of 32 teams.
- 91% of players feel they have enough full-time physical therapists, a rank of 6 out of 32.
- 57% of players feel they have enough hot tub space, a rank of 30 out of 32.
- 90% of players feel they have enough cold tub space, a rank of 12 out of 32.
This has been an important part for Penner, Sean Payton, and the team with Beau Lowery overseeing this as the team’s VP of Player Health and Performance.
Training Staff: B+, 12th in 2024
Last year’s ranking: B, 11th in 2023
Reasoning:
- 89% of Broncos players report that they receive enough one-on-one training treatment, ranking them 12 out of 32 teams.
- The players feel that their training staff moderately contributes to their overall success, ranking them 14 of 32.
Weight Room: B, 20th in 2024
Last year’s ranking: B, 19th in 2023
Reasoning:
- The players believe the weight room equipment is good quality, ranking them 27 out of 32 teams.
- The players feel that they have adequate space to train in the weight room, a ranking of 17 out of 32.
With current construction on the Broncos new team facility, space and equipment quality will improve further when the facility is finalized.
Strength coaches: B-, 30th in 2024
Last year’s ranking: C, 30th in 2023
Reasoning:
- 83% of players report that they get an individualized training plan from their strength coaching staff, ranking the team 30 out of 32.
- The players feel that their strength coaches moderately contribute to their overall success, a rank of 24 out of 32 teams.
Players specifically compliment the work of the assistant strength coaches saying they are the ones providing high-quality programming and dedicated support.
Team Travel: A, 6th in 2024
Last year’s ranking: B-, 10th in 2023
Reasoning:
- 98% of the Broncos players believe they have a comfortable amount of personal space on team flights, ranking them 3 out of 32.
- The players feel that their team’s travel schedule is not very efficient, a rank of 25 out of 32 teams.
In regards to the second bullet point, the Denver Broncos would travel on Friday’s sometime if they had an east coast game, which gives them an extra day at a hotel for road games. Denver traveled to West Virginia straight from Tampa Bay after Week 3 and stayed a week leading up to their game against the New York Jets in Week 4, which had mixed reviews in the eyes of the players.
Head Coach: B, 26th in 2024
Last year’s ranking: A-, 17th
Reasoning:
- 80% of Broncos players feel their head coach Sean Payton is efficient with their time, a rank of 27 out of 32.
- The players feel that Payton is moderately receptive to locker room feedback on the team’s needs, ranking him 29 of 32 head coaches in the league.
Payton has a lot of structure around player time at the facility with purpose surrounding the schedule around practice, treatment, and meetings. It’s unclear in the second bullet point whether or not locker room feedback suggests needs or improvements in the locker room space, or if it pertains to being receptive about any issues.
Ownership: A, 4th in 2024
Last year’s ranking: A, 5th in 2023
Reasoning:
- Owner Greg Penner’s average rating for perceived willingness to invest in the facilities is 9.62 out of 10 from the Broncos players, a ranking of 4 out of 32 owners in the league.
- The players feel that ownership significantly contributes to a positive team culture, a rank of 5 out of 32.
- The players feel that ownership is extremely committed to building a competitive team, a rank of 5 of the 32 NFL owners.
These remarks are important for the team culture and behind-the-scenes operations of the Broncos. Players see members of Ownership on a consistent basis as the team facility, practice, and community events. Ownership has shown the willingness to invest in the players by creating a new team facility, which is currently under construction. They’ve invested in player health and safety, including the staff and changing out the field at the midway point of the season for a fresh playing surface.