SerpApi.Org
NFL players may not get their wish to play on natural grass despite growing optimism that a switch could be made following the FIFA World Cup.
Players continue to push for the NFL to switch entirely to natural grass, arguing that the World Cup has demonstrated the transition can be made. League executives, though, remain divided over whether a full change is practical. Earlier this summer, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle claimed that around 90 percent of NFL players would rather compete on grass.
He also suggested every stadium could make the switch if owners "really gave a s---." With natural grass already in place at half of the league's venues, at least one owner has publicly backed the players' campaign. It has long been stated by players and the players’ association that playing on artificial turf is detrimental to players’ health and has caused some injuries.
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Seven NFL stadiums converted to natural grass to satisfy World Cup requirements, including several venues where making the switch had long been viewed as too difficult or unrealistic.
According to the NFL Players Association, the temporary conversions are proof that the infrastructure, technology, and expertise needed to install natural grass are already in place.
They claim the debate is no longer about whether it can be done, but whether owners are willing to commit the same level of investment for NFL players. “The temporary installation of natural grass fields for the World Cup is a choice by certain NFL team owners to do for soccer players what they refuse to do for NFL players,” the NFLPA said.
“It’s no longer a question of capability; the technology exists, the expertise exists and the resources exist to install the high-level grass fields that our players overwhelmingly prefer.
“According to the NFLPA, 92 percent of surveyed players prefer to play on natural grass rather than artificial turf. Players across the league have joined the campaign, arguing that the consequences of playing on artificial surfaces are ultimately borne by their bodies and careers.”
“We’ve made it clear that we prefer grass fields. We know it’s better on our bodies. And clearly, we know it’s possible based on everything that went into putting down grass fields for the World Cup in each stadium,” San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle told the NFLPA.
“At this point, it comes down to the NFL making it a priority and choosing to invest in us as players, because our bodies are our business, which they get to capitalize on.”
The NFL, however, has consistently maintained that the available evidence does not show a significant difference in injury rates between artificial turf and natural grass. The league cited the 2021 and 2025 seasons as evidence for its position, noting that injury rates on artificial turf and natural grass were virtually identical in both years.
NFL field director Nick Pappas laid out the league’s position during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show this week. "When we look across injury data, we no longer see this as an injury issue," Pappas said.
"In the past, those concerns that turf was driving up the injury rate. When we look at the injury rate and the severity of injury — and by that I mean the amount of ACLs, the amount of extended time-loss injuries, those real burdensome injuries — when we look at that, it's a split, grass vs. turf. It becomes just the injury rate of playing football at this point."
The NFL appears determined to stick with artificial turf, for now.
