NFLPA pushing for natural grass to replace artificial turf throughout NFL

NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell is pushing for the NFL to switch to natural grass fields throughout the league.

Many have called for the NFL to rid themselves of turf fields throughout the years, and the injury to Aaron Rodgers on Monday Night Football at MetLife Stadium has added to those concerns. On Wednesday, Howell released an emphatic statement, believing natural grass fields are “worth the investment.”

“Moving all stadium fields to high quality natural grass surfaces is the easiest decision the NFL can make,” Howell’s statement read, via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. “The players overwhelmingly prefer it and the data is clear that grass is simply safer than artificial turf. It is an issue that has been near the top of the players’ list during my team visits and one I have raised with the NFL.

“While we know there is an investment to making this change, there is a bigger cost to everyone in our business if we keep losing our best players to unnecessary injuries. It makes no sense that stadiums can flip over to superior grass surfaces when the World Cup comes, or soccer clubs come to visit for exhibition games in the summer, but inferior artificial surfaces are acceptable for our own players.

“This is worth the investment and it simply needs to change now.”

The concern regarding artificial turf has grown exponentially over the last couple of seasons, and it seems to be coming to a head. However, it’s much more expensive to use natural grass at stadiums, so it remains to be seen if franchises will decide to make the switch.

Moreover, the Rodgers’ injury occurred after Bills edge rusher Leonard Floyd sacked the Jets quarterback to the ground. He went into the blue medical tent after being helped off the field, following throwing just one pass in his Jets debut. He went back to the locker room on a cart and was out for the remainder of the game. 

Afterwards, the former NFL MVP was wearing a boot on his left foot. Rodgers underwent x-rays on his ankle which were negative, but an MRI has confirmed the injury to his Achilles.

Elsewhere in Week 1, Baltimore Ravens running back JK Dobbins also tore his Achilles, but it happened on a natural grass field. So while the players do seem to prefer natural grass, it’s not a foolproof solution, as many believe.

Nevertheless, the push is gaining steam, but it’s on the league and ownership groups to make the change. Time will tell, but natural grass could be making it’s way to more stadiums in the future, if Lloyd Howell has his way.