Saquon Barkley Presses NFL on Grass Fields as 7 World Cup NFL Venues Replaced Turf

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 23

Saquon Barkley said the NFL will struggle to justify artificial turf after seven U.S. NFL stadiums installed grass to meet FIFA’s World Cup rules.
Barkley said he prefers grass and believes most players do too, echoing an NFLPA-backed push that says player safety is #WorthTheCost.
Half of NFL stadiums still use turf, even though NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell has said 92% of players prefer grass and players have long criticized surfaces such as MetLife Stadium.
The NFL is tightening field standards before the 2026 season and giving teams two years to comply, but it still does not plan to require natural grass.
The league’s resistance rests partly on cost and maintenance, while chief medical officer Allen Sills says injury and concussion data show no statistically significant surface-based differences.

Sources

World Cup grass now covers NFL turf fields. Is the league prioritizing cost over the health of its multi-million dollar players?

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