Panthers' David Tepper Ranked Worst in NFLPA Survey Among Owners Building Contenders

Carolina Panthers players are reportedly unconvinced that team owner David Tepper is committed to building a contender.

Players ranked Tepper 32nd out of 32 NFL owners in commitment to "building a competitive team" on the annual franchise report card published Wednesday by the NFLPA.

According to the NFLPA, players described Tepper as "only somewhat committed" to that goal.

The Panthers received an overall ownership rating of D-minus in the latest NFLPA survey. Only the New York Jets, led by owner Woody Johnson, received a worse rating of F.

Players asked about ownership's "perceived willingness to invest in the facilities" gave Tepper a 6.12/10, which ranked 29th among 32 owners, according to the NFLPA.

Survey respondents also said Panthers ownership "only slightly contributes to a positive team culture," ranking the team 31st out of 32 franchises.

This marks the second straight season Panthers ownership has received a grade of D on the players union's annual report card.

According to the 2024 NFLPA survey, Tepper received a poor grade last season in large part due to his decision to replace the Bank of America's field with turf rather than grass before the MLS' Charlotte Football Club began playing at the venue in 2021. The NFLPA reported in 2024 that 100 percent of Panthers players "said they prefer to play on grass."

The turf remained an issue in 2025. The NFLPA wrote on the latest report card that "players continue to call for a return to a grass field."

"There are several areas that stand out to players as detrimental to their work experiences, including a lack of space in the facility, declining travel conditions, and the continued use of turf over grass," the NFLPA wrote.

The NFLPA added: "The need for renovations and the continued use of turf instead of grass, perhaps because it is cheaper to maintain, continue to be drivers of owner David Tepper’s low grade."

Tepper purchased a controlling stake in the Panthers ahead of the 2018 season. The Panthers have not made the playoffs in seven campaigns since.