NFL players have intensified their push for natural grass fields, particularly after many stadiums transitioned to grass for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The NFL Players Association has sponsored this movement, arguing that the World Cup demonstrates the feasibility of grass surfaces.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle noted that approximately 90% of players prefer grass, stating that team owners could adopt it if they truly cared about player safety. Currently, half of the NFL's stadiums feature grass fields, with notable support from owners like Mark Davis of the Las Vegas Raiders, who emphasized the importance of safety and tradition in his choice of playing surface.

Davis highlighted his commitment by stating, "There was no way I was going to build the stadium or anything else to play on artificial turf." He pointed to the success of maintaining a grass field even in the desert, echoing sentiments shared by Arizona Cardinals regarding their retractable field tray.

Safety concerns drive the players' preference for grass, with NFLPA executive director JC Tretter citing data indicating a 28% higher rate of non-contact lower extremity injuries on turf compared to grass. The statistics also reveal 32% more non-contact knee injuries and 69% more foot/ankle injuries on turf from 2012-2018.

In contrast, the NFL asserts that there is no significant difference in injury rates between turf and grass. NFL field director Nick Pappas claimed injury rates were similar across surfaces in recent years, suggesting that advances in turf technology have mitigated previous concerns.

While the league prefers to innovate on turf rather than transition to grass, the growing player demand for natural surfaces could become a contentious issue in future collective bargaining negotiations, especially as the current CBA approaches its expiration in 2030.