Players across the National Football League are increasing pressure for a league-wide shift to natural grass playing surfaces, a movement gaining momentum in the wake of the FIFA World Cup's use of grass fields in several NFL stadiums. The hashtag #WorthTheCost has been adopted by prominent players advocating for the change.
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and Commanders offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil are among the players who have taken to social media to express their preference for grass. Their calls coincide with the conversion of MetLife Stadium and other NFL venues to natural grass for the World Cup. Seven of these stadiums are expected to revert to artificial turf after the tournament concludes.
The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) issued a statement at the beginning of the World Cup, urging NFL owners to adopt grass fields permanently. The union argued that the temporary installation of grass for soccer demonstrates the feasibility of the change for NFL players. According to the NFLPA, 92 percent of NFL players prefer natural grass surfaces.
The NFLPA stated that "the technology exists, the expertise exists and the resources exist to install the high-level grass fields that our players overwhelmingly prefer." The union also pointed to the "meaningful investments made to meet the standard for international athletes and global events," asserting that NFL players, who contribute to the stadiums' funding and the league's success, "deserve the same commitment to quality grass fields."