Home / Sports / Kittle Demands Grass: NFL Players Speak Out on Turf Dangers
Kittle Demands Grass: NFL Players Speak Out on Turf Dangers
27 Jun
Summary
- Star players advocate for natural grass over artificial turf fields.
- Non-contact injuries are 28% higher on turf, according to NFLPA.
- Players prefer natural grass over synthetic turf surfaces.
Star NFL players are escalating their demands for safer playing conditions, pushing the league to prioritize natural grass fields over synthetic turf. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle publicly called for the NFL to adopt grass surfaces, citing the recent conversion of stadiums for World Cup matches as an example. Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks amplified Kittle's message on social media.
Both Kittle and Brooks have suffered significant non-contact injuries, with Brooks tearing his ACL and Kittle tearing his Achilles. These injuries occurred on turf fields, intensifying their advocacy for change. Data from the NFL Players Association indicates a 28% higher rate of non-contact lower extremity injuries on turf compared to grass. A recent NFLPA survey also confirmed that players overwhelmingly prefer natural grass.
