NFL players looking for the best overall experience should consider signing with the Minnesota Vikings. That’s according to the results of a survey of 1,300 NFL players who were asked to provide feedback about their team’s facilities, staff, treatment of families, nutrition, travel conditions and more.
The official report card released by the NFLPA has the Vikings at the top of the list, having scored highly in all of the main categories.
- Treatment of families: A (tied 2nd)
- Nutrition: A- (tied 5th)
- Weight room: A (tied 5th)
- Strength staff: A+ (tied 1st)
- Training room: A+ (tied 1st)
- Training staff: A+ (tied 1st)
- Locker room: A+ (tied 1st)
- Travel: A (tied 4th)
- Overall: 1st
“1,300 of our players provided information to share with one another about their current club, to not only help them make important career decisions, but also help raise standards across the league,” a message from the NFLPA reads. “Our goals were to highlight positive clubs, identify areas that could use improvement, and highlight best practices and standards.”
The questionnaire sent to every NFL player asked them to grade specific aspects of their team on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the best possible rating.
The Vikings received flying colors, with players applauded the team for having enough hot tubs, cold tubs, sauna and steam room space, quality meals and a family room and daycare.
Perhaps the most shocking news from the study was the very open criticism of the training staff under former head coach Mike Zimmer. The head athletic training under Zimmer and previous coaching staffs was Eric Sugarman, who wasn’t retained when Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah were hired last year.
“The players feel that the new training staff goes above and beyond to support them and add to their success. It was a welcome change from the previous regime,” the NFLPA results say.
In the NFLPA’s formal assessment of the Vikings, Sugarman was clearly called out.
“The Minnesota Vikings are ranked as the best team in our guide. 100% of the players feel like owner Zygi Wilf is willing to spend money to upgrade the facilities, and that assessment makes sense since the Vikings have gone through three significant upgrades in recent years.
“Their facility was recently built and is considered state-of-the-art. This past year, they replaced former Head Coach Mike Zimmer with Kevin O’Connell, who through his first year is regarded as one of the most player friendly head coaches. Additionally, the former head trainer, who several players had negative experiences with, moved on from the organization. The Minnesota Vikings are a shining example of what is possible when a concerted investment is made in both staffing and facilities.”
After Sugarman was let go in March 2022, former Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo ripped Sugarman on social media: “Eric Sugarman was not a good man so [whatever] narrative you guys think of him it’s been fabricated.”
So while this is a bad look for Sugarman, the overall results are great news for the Vikings, who can use all the help they can get entering free agency as one of the most salary cap-strapped teams in the league.
