San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has renewed his criticism of the NFL's use of artificial turf in stadiums, advocating for natural grass surfaces.
Kittle's comments came after he attended the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium. He shared a photograph of the grass field on social media platform X, writing, "Grass looks great at MetLife! Can we keep it that way @NFL?? Would appreciate it thanks." FIFA had required host cities to install grass in NFL stadiums that typically use artificial turf for the tournament.
This is not the first time Kittle has expressed concerns about artificial turf. Since the World Cup began in June, he has repeatedly called out the NFL, citing safety concerns and deeming the conditions too dangerous for players.
MetLife Stadium, despite being an outdoor venue, utilizes artificial turf. The stadium has been the site of several significant injuries to NFL players. Notable season-ending injuries at MetLife include Aaron Rodgers' torn Achilles in 2023, Nick Bosa's torn ACL in 2020, and Wan’dale Robinson's torn ACL in a non-contact play in 2022. The Philadelphia Eagles' playing surface, by contrast, is a hybrid of natural grass mixed with artificial turf fibers.
Kittle, preparing for his 10th NFL season, is currently rehabilitating from a torn Achilles injury he sustained in January. He recently posted a video of himself deadlifting 665 pounds as part of his recovery.