NFLPA Says 92% of 1,700 Players Want Grass Fields as World Cup Stadiums Swap Out Turf
Updated
Updated · ESPN · May 13
NFLPA Says 92% of 1,700 Players Want Grass Fields as World Cup Stadiums Swap Out Turf
5 articles · Updated · ESPN · May 13
JC Tretter said 92% of 1,700 polled NFL players prefer grass, arguing the union wants enforceable standards for high-quality natural surfaces rather than any grass field.
Tretter said headline injury gaps between turf and grass have narrowed because grass fields have worsened, while turf injury rates have stayed relatively steady, leaving players convinced their bodies feel different on grass.
Fifteen of 30 NFL stadiums still use artificial turf, but seven World Cup venues — including SoFi, MetLife and Mercedes-Benz — are installing natural grass ahead of the tournament starting June 11.
That contrast could sharpen labor pressure: the NFL and NFLPA already agreed on approved surface metrics for replacements from 2026, with all stadiums required to meet the standards by 2028, and the CBA runs through 2030.
If stadiums can install grass for the World Cup, why won't NFL owners do the same for their own players?
Will the NFLPA trade safer grass fields for the higher injury risk of an 18-game season in CBA talks?