The World Cup wrapped up, and while the soccer action was thrilling, NFL players had their eyes on something else entirely: those gorgeous natural grass fields laid down in *their own stadiums*. This whole thing is fueling a massive push from the NFLPA, with a staggering 92 percent of players saying they want to play on natural grass. They’re making it clear the World Cup proved it’s absolutely possible.
The Players Are United: It’s #WorthTheCost
This isn’t just some casual gripe from the locker room. Players have been hitting social media hard with the hashtag #WorthTheCost, and they’ve got good reason. The NFLPA noted that seven different NFL stadiums, all typically rocking artificial turf, were outfitted with natural grass for the international tournament. That list includes some big names like SoFi and MetLife, but get this, it also includes our very own Lumen Field right here in the Emerald City!
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle didn’t hold back, putting out a long statement through the NFLPA’s Twitter account. He laid it out plain: “We’ve made it clear that we prefer grass fields. We know it’s better on our bodies. And clearly, we know it’s possible based on everything that went into putting down grass fields for the World Cup in each stadium.” Kittle nailed the core issue, saying, “At this point, it comes down to the NFL making it a priority and choosing to invest in us as players, because our bodies are our business, which they get to capitalize on!” Can you blame him? Our guys put their bodies on the line every single snap.
Sam LaPorta’s Call To Action After A Close Call
The latest player to jump into the fray is Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta. He threw up an Instagram story with the words “WHY CAN’T WE HAVE THIS TOO” plastered over a photo of SoFi Stadium, looking pristine with natural grass getting mowed. LaPorta knows this issue firsthand. He suffered a knee injury in his rookie season at Ford Field. His foot got caught in that artificial turf. While he didn’t miss any games, he was limited during the Lions’ deep playoff run that year, and nobody wants their star players held back when it matters most.
The Lions actually did try to do right by their players in 2023, updating their artificial turf to move away from the widely disliked slit-film style. But the team has been firm about not swapping to natural grass. Coach Dan Campbell said, “We’re committed. Sheila and Rod are committed to finding,whatever it is. We know we can’t have grass. We’re a dome team, so let’s find the very best, the best rated turf that we can get, and so, that’s been a priority.” They even considered a retractable roof and natural grass when bidding for an MLS team, but ultimately decided it wasn’t feasible.
So, here’s the deal: players are hurting, the NFLPA is fighting, and the World Cup showed everyone, including us here in Seattle, that stadiums like Lumen Field can absolutely host natural grass. How long can the league ignore 92 percent of its players when player safety is on the line? This ain’t just about comfort, it’s about protecting the business itself: the players.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply