Ethan Vance | staff writer

The battle between grass and turf fields has become one of the NFL’s biggest debates for years.

Concern over field conditions, weather impact and (most importantly) player safety have sparked debate for years. Currently, 16 of 32 NFL teams use grass, with the other half using turf. Both have their issues, but what makes the debate so heated?

According to the NFL Injury Surveillance System, their 10-year study concluded that non-contact lower extremity injuries like ACL tears, ankle sprains and knee injuries occurred at higher rates on synthetic turf than natural grass fields.

While I think grass is better, it’s not perfect either. The main issue with grass fields is that overtime they become hard to maintain. That’s why teams like the Carolina Panthers have recently switched to turf, seeking to accommodate a busier schedule as they share a field with Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer.

I don’t think maintaining fields long term outweighs the negatives of turf fields. The main goal for NFL teams should be to keep their players safe. By keeping turf fields, they are statistically allowing for a higher chance at injury.

One of the most talked about fields in this debate in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This stadium is shared between the New York Giants and New York Jets and has used multiple types of turf fields since it opened in 2010. Since then, multiple lower extremity injuries have occurred — including Aaron Rodgers left Achilles tear (2023), Nick Bosa’s ACL tear (2020) and Malik Nabers’ ACL tear (2025).

“But then MetLife, everyone knows about that [expletive] stadium. They need to get real grass,” Darius Slay, Super Bowl champion cornerback, said in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Meanwhile, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there were eight games played at MetLife — including the final. With concerns about the playing conditions, FIFA decided to use 100% Bermuda grass for the tournament. While France’s Head Coach Didier Deschamps criticized the pitch for its condition, no major injuries occurred.

It begs the question that despite numerous complaints from NFL players past and present, why does the NFL keep using turf — not only at Metlife, but at half of the league’s fields?

What it comes down to is the NFL is a business trying to maximize profit. According to Miller Sports, while turf has a higher installation cost, over time it becomes more cost effective than grass fields. Former players like Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb has called out the NFL for prioritizing profit over player safety.

Turf has its benefits for certain weather conditions. It’s able to drain water faster than grass fields, clearing muddy conditions easier. Turf is generally more durable during extreme weather like rain or snow storms as grass fields get soggy during these conditions.

However, turf is not always the best in extreme heat. On Sept. 20, in a Week Two game between the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles, the playing surface (turf) temperature reached up to 157 degrees at Nissan Stadium, according to ESPN.

“Cleats were falling apart. My feet were literally on fire,” Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean said on his podcast, “Exciting Mics.” “You couldn’t even stand still on the field because your feet would start burning.”

The Fox broadcast also showed Titans players spraying water on the bottom of their cleats to combat the heat.

According to Mediaite, another concern with turf is the traction. On grass fields, cleats typically grip better than on turf. This helps prevent players getting swept from under on contact. This play typically occurs with offensive lineman while they’re blocking.

During the 2022-2023 NFL season, Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson was hit low by a Green Bay Packers defender. His knee was hyperextended before his leg was immediately lifted off the ground and Johnson fell to the ground. Despite that, he was not injured on the play.

According to former NFL doctor David Chao, the Eagles playing on grass is what could have saved Johnson.

“The grass field at Lincoln Financial Field potentially saves a serious knee injury for RT Lane Johnson,” Chao posted on his X account.

So yes, turf solves problems like weather destroying fields and allows the NFL to maximize profit. But the NFL’s main goal shouldn’t be profiting off of player’s injuries, but rather making sure those injuries don’t happen.

While grass doesn’t completely eliminate injuries, it gives players significantly higher confidence on the field that a twisted knee or a fall won’t end their season or their career.

Ethan Vance can be reached at vancee@duq.edu