Chorus of NFL Stars Call for Stadiums to Adopt Natural Grass After World Cup

NFL injury data found that non-contact lower-extremity injuries increased by 28 percent on artificial turf when compared with natural grass.

John Rigolizzo

Published: 7/20/2026, 2:38:25 PM EDT

The NFL Divisional playoff logo on the field during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game between the San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., on Jan. 12, 2014. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

NFL players doubled down on their calls for the NFL to adopt grass fields after the World Cup.

The tournament concluded at MetLife Stadium Sunday. FIFA regulations heavily favor natural grass surfaces and impose strict regulations on artificial turf; the NFL prefers turf, and many stadiums used for the World Cup are already replacing their fields. But NFL players do not, and many of them took to X with the hashtag #worththecost over the weekend to advocate for a permanent switch to grass.

"If stadiums can make grass work for the World Cup, they can make it work for NFL players. We're #WorthTheCost," Washington Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil wrote in a post on X Friday. The same prompt was shared by a long list of players, including Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor and defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, Indianapolis Colts DT Neville Gallimore, Cleveland Browns defensive end Julian Okwara, New York Giants DE Shelby Harris, and Buffalo Bills long snapper Reid Ferguson.

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor shared another pre-written message on the app.

"Natural grass isn't out of reach. Prioritizing players shouldn't be either! We're #WorthTheCost," he wrote. That message was also posted by Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love, Colts wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson, and Carolina Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd.

"We’ve seen what's possible. Now it's time to make grass fields the standard. Players are #WorthTheCost," was another prompt shared by Denver Broncos LT Garrett Bolles, free agent tackle Kelvin Beachum, New Orleans Saints safety Terrell Burgess and corner Beanie Bishop, Cardinals CBs Jaden Davis and Garrett Williams, Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Timothy Horne, and New York Jets safety Malachi Moore.

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft said his team is "spoiled" because they are one of a few teams in the NFL that still play on natural grass.

"Natural grass is the best, and should be the only surface we play on. We are #WorthTheCost," Kraft wrote.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams posted a photo of a FIFA employee cutting the field grass at a stadium hosting the tourney, with the caption, "Why can't we have this too?" The graphic was shared by Colts LB Zaire Franklin, Bears backup QB Case Keenum, and Lions tight end Sam LaPorta on Instagram.

Other players who shared the hashtag in some form included Pittsburgh Steelers LB Patrick Queen, Cincinnati Bengals LB Oren Burks, Jets DT Harrison Phillips, New England Patriots LB Jesse Luketa, Bengals center Ted Karras, and Packers DE Barryn Sorrell.

Several players in attendance at the final took the opportunity to advocate for grass.

"Grass looks great at MetLife! Can we keep it that way @NFL?? Would appreciate it thanks," San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle wrote from the stands at MetLife.

Kittle has repeatedly called for the NFL to adopt natural grass surfaces. In a June 22 interview on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast, he specifically mentioned MetLife.

“If you can put grass in MetLife and in SoFi, I think you could do that year-round if you really gave a [expletive]," he said at the time. "I mean, that’s my opinion. I think, if you polled every single player, I would say probably 90 percent would [say] they would prefer a grass field. And I'd say 10 percent would say they don’t care. But 90 percent of guys, they prefer to play on grass. And so, it’s just like, well, you just showed that you can do it, so then, why don’t we do it? Because that’s what the players want to do.”

The National Football League Players’ Association (NFLPA) conducted a player poll on the issue ahead of the World Cup. The union found that 92 percent of players prefer playing on natural grass.

NFL injury data cited in a blog post by former NFLPA President JC Tretter found that non-contact lower-extremity injuries increased by 28 percent on artificial turf when compared with natural grass, including a 32 percent increase in non-contact knee injuries on turf and a 69 percent increase in non-contact foot/ankle injuries.

MetLife Stadium has developed a particularly infamous reputation among players. A total of 15 players have suffered season-ending injuries at MetLife since 2020, and most have occurred since 2023, when the stadium installed a novel synthetic surface called FieldTurf.

Giants right tackle Jermaine Eleumenor—who plays his home games on that turf—echoed a similar sentiment from his seat. Eleumenor also argued with a Giants beat reporter who predicted that players would complain about playing on natural grass during the winter months.

"Turf vs Grass in December is no debate!" he wrote. "Doesn’t matter how cold it gets grass will always feel better. I’ve Played in Green Bay in early December and it still felt a million times better than turf anytime. Turf will never be the answer."

After the tourney ended, some stadiums wasted no time reverting to their old artificial surfaces. Dallas-Fort Worth area news station Fox 4 posted video of construction vehicles stripping the playing surface and loading it into dump trucks.