NFLPA director calls for grass fields across league

NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell wants the NFL to switch to grass fields.

"Moving all stadium fields to high-quality natural grass surfaces is the easiest decision the NFL can make," Howell said Wednesday in a statement, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"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."

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles on Monday night at MetLife Stadium, which uses slit film turf. Rodgers previously voiced a desire for grass fields across the league, and his injury prompted former teammate Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari to call for the NFL to "do better."

Howell acknowledged the high costs of the turf change but pointed to how NFL stadiums hosting 2026 World Cup games will temporarily switch to natural grass to meet the tournament's standards.

"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," said Howell, named the NFLPA's executive director in June. "It makes no sense that stadiums can flip over to superior grass surfaces when the World Cup comes ... but inferior artificial surfaces are acceptable for our own players."

The NFLPA also voiced its concerns in November 2022 over players' safety playing on slit film turf, demanding the "immediate removal of these fields and a ban on them going forward, both in stadiums and for practice fields." However, the players' union added that the league wouldn't agree to those changes or any in the future.