| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| ● National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) data shows players suffer 28% more non-contact lower-body injuries and 69% more foot/ankle injuries on turf than on grass. ● The 2026 World Cup forced 7 NFL turf stadiums to install natural grass to meet FIFA's standards. ● The World Cup conversion renewed players’ call for permanent grass fields under the current #WorthTheCost campaign. |
Roughly half the NFL plays on real grass and half on artificial turf, and which one a stadium uses has become one of football’s most heated off-field fights. As of the 2026 season, 16 of the league’s 30 stadiums use natural grass and 14 use synthetic turf.
Is that grass natural, artificial turf, or some hybrid? On your big-screen TV, they look nearly identical, and you most likely cannot tell the difference.
NFL players, though, can tell the difference. The debate over natural vs. artificial grass, and the growing pile of injury claims, has pushed players in favor of grass.
This is the story of how the NFL drifted to plastic, why players are fighting to return to grass, and which stadiums use what today.
Which NFL Stadiums Use Grass vs. Turf
As of the start of the 2026 season, NFL stadiums are split roughly evenly between natural grass and artificial turf.
Natural grass NFL stadiums:
| Team(s) | Stadium | Surface |
| Arizona Cardinals | State Farm Stadium | Bermuda grass |
| Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium | Bermuda grass |
| Buffalo Bills | Highmark Stadium | Kentucky bluegrass |
| Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass blend |
| Cleveland Browns | Huntington Bank Field | Kentucky bluegrass/perennial ryegrass blend |
| Denver Broncos | Empower Field at Mile High | Kentucky bluegrass |
| Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | Kentucky bluegrass |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | EverBank Stadium | Bermuda grass |
| Kansas City Chiefs | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium | Bermuda grass |
| Las Vegas Raiders | Allegiant Stadium | Bermuda grass |
| Miami Dolphins | Hard Rock Stadium | Bermuda grass |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | Bermuda grass reinforced with synthetic fibers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Acrisure Stadium | Kentucky bluegrass |
| San Francisco 49ers | Levi’s Stadium | Hybrid Bermuda grass |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | Bermuda grass |
| Washington Commanders | Northwest Stadium | Bermuda grass |
Artificial turf stadiums:
| Team(s) | Stadium | Surface |
| Atlanta Falcons | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Synthetic turf |
| Carolina Panthers | Bank of America Stadium | Synthetic turf |
| Cincinnati Bengals | Paycor Stadium | FieldTurf |
| Dallas Cowboys | AT&T Stadium | Hellas Matrix turf |
| Detroit Lions | Ford Field | Synthetic turf |
| Houston Texans | NRG Stadium | Hellas Matrix turf |
| Indianapolis Colts | Lucas Oil | Synthetic turf |
| LA Rams / LA Chargers | SoFi Stadium | Hellas Matrix Helix turf |
| Minnesota Vikings | U.S. Bank Stadium | Monofilament synthetic turf |
| New England Patriots | Gillette Stadium | Synthetic turf |
| New Orleans Saints | Caesars Superdome | Synthetic turf |
| NY Giants / NY Jets | MetLife Stadium | FieldTurf |
| Seattle Seahawks | Lumen Field | Synthetic turf |
| Tennessee Titans | Nissan Stadium | Synthetic turf |
How the NFL Drifted From Grass to Turf
The first sports artificial playing surface debuted on the infield of the Astrodome in 1966. It was the home of the Houston Astros, the Major League Baseball expansion franchise. They learned in 1965 that grass would not grow well indoors.
The success of the artificial grass in the dome led to it being rebranded AstroTurf.
That new infield looked green, but it had none of the forgiveness that grass did. Some players found that the artificial turf gave them more traction, but that traction came at the cost of the field’s surface being much harder.
Both in baseball and football, knee and leg injuries spiked as teams transitioned from grass to artificial turf.
Turf and grass have both improved in the past half-century. Today’s synthetic systems are rated by speed and firmness, and makers say they’re easier on the body than older versions. Even so, there’s no league-wide agreement on which surface is best.
Read more: An Ultimate Guide to Grass Types
The Injury Case Against Turf
At 2022’s Super Bowl, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the second quarter. The field was artificial turf.
The injury raised concerns about the venue, the Rams’ SoFi Stadium. That’s because Beckham’s injury came not as a result of a tackle or a collision. Rather, while wide-open running a crossing pattern, the cleats on Beckham’s left foot got caught in SoFi’s artificial turf. His ACL gave way.
Artificial turf has a troubling history at all levels of play.
Using the NFL’s own injury reports from 2012–2018, the NFL Players Association found players have a 28% higher rate of non-contact lower-extremity injuries on artificial turf, including a 69% higher rate of non-contact foot/ankle injuries.
A 2019 study out of Cleveland-based University Hospitals said that high school players – boys and girls – playing sports on turf fields suffered 58% more injuries than those playing on natural grass fields.
Players and Execs Make the Case for Grass
In 2022, grass seed maker Pennington took to the Super Bowl ad airwaves to make its case for a return to natural turf with a #FlipTheTurf petition. The campaign brought attention to the issue, but the company also had an obvious financial incentive should NFL teams make the switch from artificial turf to natural grass.
While the company’s move would seem to be a good business ploy, the players’ motivation seems to come from self-preservation.
For years, NFL players have been openly pleading for a return to grass. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle went on Twitter to write, “Artificial turf feels like playing on cement,” linking it with a #FlipTheTurf hashtag.
👀I’ve been saying, artificial turf feels like playing on cement. It’s time to play smarter, not harder! Help us #FlipTheTurf by signing the petition https://t.co/xLEAMmD6Xv @Penningtonlawn #penningtonpartner pic.twitter.com/Z3z27P9Row
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) February 13, 2022
And after the 2022 Super Bowl, Kittle’s 49ers teammate, edge rusher Nick Bosa, linked to the same petition while talking about his turf-related injury in 2020. Bosa wrote, “Every player is one play away from altering their career forever when playing on turf.” He was. Bosa didn’t play again until 2021.
Every player is one play away from altering their career forever when playing on turf. I experienced the
bad side of this and it could have been avoided. Help me #FlipTheTurf to real grass with @penningtonlawn. Sign here: https://t.co/zAUcWTBDJy #penningtonpartner pic.twitter.com/NXpqC8bGMo— Nick Bosa (@nbsmallerbear) February 14, 2022
The NFLPA has made all-grass fields a priority, with its leadership arguing the players’ occupation is “dangerous enough.” Management’s counter is practical: artificial turf can be used more often and maintained more cheaply, especially in domes and multi-use stadiums.
J.C. Tretter, the Cleveland Browns center who currently serves as the executive director of the NFL Players Association, plays home games on Kentucky bluegrass at Huntington Bank Field. He’d like to see the 17 teams currently playing home games on artificial surfaces migrate toward grass.
“Our occupation is dangerous enough,” Tretter says, adding that a move to all-grass fields is one of the players’ key issues.
Using the NFL’s official injury reports from the seasons 2012-2018, Tretter made a case on the NFLPA’s website that natural grass fields provide a much lower risk for injuries.
Our union has to keep advocating for player health and safety in all areas. The next frontier on this: our game and practice fields. The data proves turf is worse than grass and we need to do better: https://t.co/ggEt4eCHlw
— JC Tretter (@JCTretter) September 30, 2020
Even some front offices agree with the players. After Tretter’s 2020 call for grass, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, said he would like to see a large majority of NFL teams find fulfillment in natural grass.
His 49ers have. San Francisco’s experiences with artificial surfaces have been painful. In that 2020 season, Lynch’s 49ers had lost not just Bosa but also defensive tackle Solomon Thomas to season-ending ACL injuries in that artificial turf game against the Jets.
The #WorthTheCost Campaign
#FlipTheTurf remains part of the debate’s history, but #WorthTheCost is the latest player-led message.
The campaign surged this summer during the World Cup, when NFL players saw stadiums that normally use artificial turf install grass for the soccer matches. The NFLPA said the temporary fields showed that owners can provide natural grass when they decide it is worth the investment.
For NFL owners, the hesitation to switch permanently largely comes down to cost and versatility:
- Natural grass costs: Maintaining a natural grass field runs $1 million or more annually with mid-season sod replacements adding $250,000 to $500,000 per swap.
- Artificial turf costs: Synthetic fields require far less routine upkeep, running roughly $15,000 to $25,000 per year. While full surface replacement costs $750,000 to $3.5 million every 3 to 5 years, turf allows venues to host concerts and events without risking field failure.
Washington Commanders tackle Laremy Tunsil wrote on X:
If stadiums can make grass work for the World Cup, they can make it work for NFL players. We’re #WorthTheCost.
— Laremy Tunsil (@KingTunsil78) July 17, 2026
Green Bay Packers linebacker Zaire Franklin made the financial argument more directly. “The cost of doing nothing is paid for by players’ bodies,” he wrote. “Make grass mandatory. We’re #WorthTheCost.”
The cost of doing nothing is paid for by players’ bodies. Make grass mandatory. #WorthTheCost pic.twitter.com/xxxxxxxxxx
— Zaire Franklin (@ZiggySmalls_) July 17, 2026
Kittle also renewed his push during the tournament. He said the World Cup grass conversions showed the league could make grass work in any stadium, adding that players’ bodies are “their business” and that the NFL should choose to invest in them, according to ESPN.
Grass looks great at MetLife! Can we keep it that way @NFL ?? Would appreciate it thanks
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) July 20, 2026
How the 2026 World Cup Changed the Playing Field
The biggest grass requirement didn’t come from the NFL. It came from FIFA.
Eleven NFL stadiums hosted matches this summer at the 2026 World Cup. FIFA required natural grass, meaning the 7 host stadiums that normally use synthetic turf had to install temporary grass fields: MetLife Stadium, SoFi Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AT&T Stadium, NRG Stadium, Gillette Stadium, and Lumen Field.
The process demonstrated that grass can be installed in domes, covered stadiums, and heavily used venues. Depending on the stadium, organizers widened the playing area, removed or covered synthetic surfaces, and brought in specially grown grass systems for the tournament.
Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium, and Kansas City’s GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium already used grass, so they didn’t need to convert from a regular artificial NFL surface.
The post-tournament reality was less encouraging for players. AT&T Stadium began removing its temporary World Cup grass after hosting matches, returning the Cowboys’ home to its regular turf system.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the team had “no belief that it’s any safer to play on a grass field or a turf,” adding that artificial turf improves the economics of hosting events, according to ESPN.
That decision became a powerful talking point for the NFLPA: The league’s stadiums proved they could accommodate grass, but most reverted to turf for NFL use.
Looking to the Future of Sports Fields
The NFL has said every stadium will need a league-approved playing surface by the 2028 season. The NFL is creating a list of approved options that includes natural grass, hybrid, and synthetic systems. Teams will be completely free to choose any surface they want, as long as it is on that approved list.
NFL field director Nick Pappas has described the league’s goal as finding surfaces that perform more like grass, with controlled traction, firmness, and energy return. The league has used laboratory and on-field testing to evaluate those traits.
Players see the issue differently, and their position is simple: If owners can install grass temporarily for a global soccer tournament, they can install it permanently for the NFL players whose careers depend on those fields.
The next major test may come in Kansas City. The Chiefs have not yet made a final decision on the surface for their proposed new stadium, according to NBC Sports. The franchise currently plays on natural grass, and a decision to keep it would prevent one of the league’s established grass fields from becoming another turf venue.
With the NFL’s current collective bargaining agreement running through 2030, grass versus turf is likely to remain a major player-safety and labor issue.
Even the Pros Prefer Grass
The NFL may still be divided on turf, but players have made their preference clear. They want grass under their cleats.
If you have kids playing recreational or school sports, you probably face this same issue. You cannot control whether their games are played on hard synthetic turf or natural grass.
But if they are training on the natural Kentucky bluegrass in your backyard, you can keep that surface safe and looking great. Lawn Love’s local lawn care pros can help keep your grass green, lush, and ready for game day.
Main Image: A football on a grass field sets the scene for a deep dive into the NFL’s ongoing turf battle between natural grass and artificial surfaces. Photo Credit: Arslan / Adobe Stock, created using Canva Pro
