Looking back at NFLPA report cards — team travel edition: Who pays for the best planes, hotels?

Looking back at NFLPA report cards — team travel edition: Who pays for the best planes, hotels?. Skip to main content Skip to navigation Looking back at NFLPA report cards — team travel edition: Who pays for the best planes, hotels?

What happened

ESPN spoke with several players and team executives about team travel and the feedback that serves as the basis for the latest NFLPA survey grades. In February, ESPN obtained the results of the NFLPA's 2026 report cards, which are anonymous surveys done annually that include grades on categories with everything from the team's facilities to treatment of families to head coach and general manager. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, whose team received an A-minus in team travel on the survey, said the team tries to stay in the best hotels it can, but there are cities where that is more challenging.

In the newest NFLPA surveys, the 49ers received a C-plus in the team travel category and the Rams a B. Linebacker Kaden Elliss, who reunited with the Saints after three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, said he doesn't necessarily need "luxury all the time where you go" when traveling with the team, but that it's nice to feel taken care of by the organization on the road. Los Angeles Rams18hSarah BarshopNFL Power Rankings: Our post-Week 1 poll of all 32 teams, plus the best non-QB debutsKansas City Chiefs18hNFL Nation49ers find balance in the run game with Christian McCaffrey, Kaelon BlackSan Francisco 49ers6hNick WagonerHow SEC Defensive Player of the Year Cashius Howell shined in his debut6hBen BabyLamar Jackson looks like old self in Ravens' new offense6hJamison HensleyDave Canales: Panthers need to 'play way better football'6hMike KayeMalik Willis takes blame for five-sack Dolphins debut:6hMarcel Louis-JacquesNFL win rate metrics leaderboard: Ranking the best in pass rushing, run stopping and blocking14hESPN AnalyticsNFL playoff picture: Updated projections, chances to make the postseason17hESPN staffProjecting the 2027 NFL draft order: Which teams could have an early pick?

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The wider picture

There are no guidelines in the current NFL collective bargaining agreement on team travel, and there hasn't been much to show there's a correct way to do it. Teams currently have the freedom to travel when they choose for international games. What appears to matter to players is the accommodations teams dedicated to travel on domestic and international trips. Among the top four teams in the category — the Dolphins (A), New Orleans Saints (A-minus), Seattle Seahawks (A-minus) and Denver Broncos (A-minus) — there were common themes about what makes for a positive team travel experience: having personal space and leg room on a flight (including the ability to recline seats to a laying position), the condition of the plane, the amenities available and advance notice given for the team travel schedule.

The report cards are based on a survey of 1,759 players (around 80% of the NFL) across the league, administered from Nov. "I think [Saints owner Gayle Benson] just has a really awesome track record of, like, we're going to make sure we want to be the best and we're going to be the best in everything we do, including travel. Among the many topics that came up was plane seating and how the team travels. "And I was like, 'It's crazy, but welcome to the 49ers. '"Evans got an early taste of what travel with the Niners will look like when he and his teammates opened the season in Melbourne.

What has been reported

Although the teams made the final decisions, both head coaches said they talked to players about how they would handle the travel. I think about NBA teams, even hockey, baseball — NBA teams are traveling with 15 guys. "The former Patriots player said the ratings in the team travel category are also probably relative to what players are used to when they're traveling on their own. Though Elliss said there is a lot that goes into making a decision in free agency, he does think the report card grades play a part when players are deciding which team to join.

"The best surveys for me is when I get players from other teams and they're with us for a year, I'll go ask them and say, 'All right, what did you see at other places that we don't do or that you think we can do better? ' Loomis said. The league — with help from the teams — settled on a Qantas Airbus A380. The planes had 84 lie-flat seats, ensuring each player had a bed on the flight.

Each charter flight flew with four pilots, 22 cabin crew and one traveling charter manager on board.

What happens next

The NFL currently has the ability to play up to 11 games outside of North America, including a yearly contest at Wembley Stadium involving the Jaguars based on the current agreement with the NFLPA. The Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots were the only three teams to receive an F. This is the fourth year the NFLPA has conducted these surveys. In early March, Evans reached out to longtime Niners tight end George Kittle to learn more about how the team is run.

"He was a big fan of how we traveled with the lay down [seats] stuff and he's like, "Yep, I never had that,'" Kittle said. Though the NFL began its international series in 2007, this trip required the longest flight NFL teams have ever taken for a regular-season game. The two teams handled it differently, with the 49ers landing a week before to practice there.