Whitworth Blasts NFL Turf Policy as 7 Stadiums Switch to Grass for World Cup

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 25

Seven NFL stadiums with artificial turf have been converted to grass for the World Cup, prompting former Rams lineman Andrew Whitworth to say he would be annoyed if he were still playing.
Whitworth said the issue goes beyond injury data: players overwhelmingly prefer grass because turf leaves their bodies sore for days, while grass allows faster recovery even for older veterans.
The dispute is sharpened by the NFLPA's position that 92% of players prefer grass, even though about half of NFL stadiums still use synthetic surfaces.
The NFL still does not plan to mandate natural grass, instead rolling out approved field standards before the 2026 season and giving teams two years to comply; both grass and turf will be judged under those rules.
League chief medical officer Allen Sills has said surface type shows no statistically significant difference in lower-extremity injuries or concussions, underscoring the gap between player experience and league policy.