NFL Survey Exposes How Some Teams Are Failing Players and Former Clemson Stars Families

NFL Survey Exposes How Some Teams Are Failing Players and Former Clemson Stars Families originally appeared on Athlon Sports.When the NFL Players Association released its 2024 team report cards, one of the most eye-opening categories wasnt coaching or training facilitiesit was treatment of families.

And for former Clemson players like Trevor Lawrence, whove gone from Death Valleys tight-knit culture to the unpredictable world of NFL locker rooms, its an area thats quietly affecting their everyday lives.The Jacksonville Jaguars, where Lawrence has played since being drafted No.

1 overall in 2021, received an F grade in family treatmentsecond-worst in the league.

Thats a stark contrast to the culture Lawrence thrived in at Clemson, where Dabo Swinney has long emphasized family first and built a program that actively celebrates the families of players.But in the NFL, its a different world.

A veteran Jaguars player, speaking anonymously to ESPN, explained how chaotic family arrangements can be in Jacksonvillefrom last-minute miscommunications about tickets to security issues that sometimes prevent players wives from even entering the stadium without trouble.

Family should be already taken care of, the player said.

They should be an extension of a player in certain areas.Its a problem that goes deeper than convenience.

Former Clemson players, many of whom come from close-knit communities and supportive home environments, are finding the shift jarring.

The very system that once empowered themone where family, structure, and support were top prioritiesisnt always there at the next level.Trevor Lawrence has publicly praised his wife, Marissa, for her support throughout his career.

The two have become a visible part of the Jaguars brandbut stories like these raise questions about whether NFL teams are truly making family a priority, or if players like Lawrence are being asked to manage too much off the field while carrying entire franchises on it.Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs a drill during the fourth organized team activity at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

Doug EngleFlorida Times-Union USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesCompare that to teams like the Atlanta Falcons, who scored an A in family treatment.

Players there enjoy postgame cookout-style meeting spaces and smoother logistics that ease the burden on their loved ones.

That kind of setup wouldve felt right at home at Clemson.For former Clemson stars now in the NFL, the contrast in how teams treat player families is becoming more evidentand more important.

Some organizations, like the Atlanta Falcons, are setting a high standard.

Falcons team president Greg Beadles told ESPN the franchise holds monthly family dinners at the team facility and even hosted a Halloween trick-or-treat event for players kids last season.

That kind of culture aligns closely with what Clemson emphasized during their college careers: that football is about more than just what happens on the fieldits about family.Its a welcome environment for several former Tigers currently on the Falcons roster, including A.J.

Terrell, Ray-Ray McCloud, Ruke Orhorhoro, and Bradley Pinionall of whom came from a Clemson program that consistently prioritized family involvement and player support.Meanwhile, in Jacksonvillewhere former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been the face of the franchise since 2021 alongside fellow Tiger standout Travis Etiennethings have been more complicated.

Jaguars players gave the team an F in the NFLPAs 2024 survey for family treatment, citing a lack of simple resources like air-conditioned spaces for families during hot Florida game days.

Some players noted they wanted a private room for mothers to nurse and kids to cool off.However, there are signs of change under new head coach Liam Coen, who, as one player noted, is doing a lot more family stuff, especially this early on.

Coen, a father of two young sons, has made family inclusion part of the teams identityeven during OTAs.

Every Thursday is family day, the player added.

Our families can come and watch our practice and we can hang out with our family for lunch and stuff, too.Its the kind of family-forward environment Clemson alumni are used toand one that many are hoping more NFL franchises begin to embrace.As more players speak out anonymously about what they really deal with, its clear the NFL still has work to donot just on turf or in the weight room, but in how it honors the people players care about most.For former Clemson stars who were raised in a family matters culture, that shift isnt just disappointing.

Its personal.Related: Former MLB Umpire Who Ejected Clemson Star Strikes Again in CWS ControversyRelated: Elite 11 Buzz Building Around Clemson QB Commit After Strong Pro DayRelated: Rece Davis Finally Reveals What He Really Thinks About Clemsons Cade KlubnikThis story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared..

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