Natural grass was installed in all 11 of the NFL stadiums, which traditionally use synthetic turf, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. This move stirred the NFL players to want grass fields in all stadiums.

Former head coach and NFL quarterback Jason Garrett also voiced his opinion on the Up & Adams Show on Thursday. The veteran stated that he would prefer to have natural grass in every NFL stadium.

“If the World Cup players demand that they’re not going to play unless they’re playing on grass, why can’t the NFL, arguably the greatest league in the world, why can’t the players make that same demand?” asked Garrett.

On June 10, the NFL Players Association posted on Instagram a post titled “Player Voices Should Shape Their Game From the Ground Up”.

In the poll conducted by the NFLPA about its players' preference between natural grass and synthetic turf, 92% of its players preferred natural grass.

The former Dallas Cowboys head coach added that there’s a big difference when looking at the injury percentage between grass and synthetic turf. Although the league insists that statistics don’t show any difference, he believes grass stadiums prioritize player safety.

But coach Garrett also considered the business aspect of this move. He noted that grass stadiums complicated the use of multipurpose stadiums.

He took the example of AT&T Stadium in Texas, where high school and college games are also held, in addition to the usual NFL games. 

Garrett concluded by saying that having synthetic turf is a money-making move, not just for AT&T but for all stadiums across the NFL. He urged NFL players to continue demanding grass stadiums for themselves. 

Giants Veteran Makes Case for Grass Over Turf

FIFA's commitment to transform many stadiums in the USA from synthetic surfaces to natural grass has caught the attention of NFL players, who have been asking for the same for many years.

“It was kind of a s**** feeling,” New York Giants’ offensive lineman, Jermaine Eluemunor, told Giants Wire, upon hearing about the stadium transformations.

The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where the Giants play their home games, is also among those stadiums being modified for the World Cup games. 

“I’m going into year 10 and can say wholeheartedly that grass feels way better than turf,” added Eluemunor. “With MetLife getting grass, obviously it's cool for FIFA and the World Cup. It’s one of the biggest stages in the world, but at the same time, the NFL is one of the most profitable businesses in the world.”

Eluemunor concluded by saying that even though the upkeep of grass stadiums would be expensive, it would be worth it for the NFL as their players would be “confident, comfortable and mentally safe” on grass surfaces. 

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Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit