In the NFL, there are many non-contact injuries. Around 75% of the injuries are on turf fields. The league has thought of many ideas to find a way to avoid these injuries. The NFL is now getting very serious about making this change after the amount of non-contact injuries in the past two years.
There are a total of 30 stadiums in the NFL and 15 of them are turf. There are many different kinds of turf in the NFL and some are better than others. Many NFL teams switched to turf in the late 90s or early 2000s because they thought turf was easier to upkeep than regular grass. It was true turf was easier, but the injury risk was a lot higher. A reporter from the NFL players association JC Tretter stated, “ Players have a 28% higher rate of non-contact lower extremity injuries on turf compared to natural surfaces.” He also said, “ Of those non-contact injuries, players have a 23% higher rate of non-contact knee injuries on turf and a staggering 69% higher rate of non-contact foot/ankle injuries compared to grass.”
The conversation of switching from turf back to natural grass really started to come back up a couple of years ago after the amount of non-contact injuries had been happening on turf fields. NFL players were going down without contact and having major injuries. The NFL has had several conversations in the past year about how and when they are going to make this transition back to grass fields. They are talking to many NFL teams and getting their opinions on turf fields. In an article by Austin Nivision of CBS sports, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carrol stated his opinion and said,” I think we definitely need to look at this seriously in the offseason again.” Coach Carrol also said, “ We’ve got to do what’s safest for the players, and we’ve got to make those choices.” The concern of the coaches right now is very high and they want their players to be safe on the field. Players are also expressing their concerns about how the NFL should transition back to natural grass. Star wide receiver for the Los Angel Rams, Cooper Kupp said, “ I believe that we, and all teams should be playing on grass.” Cooper Kupp also said,” This is an age-old issue, and I believe the time to address the problem is now.”
The NFL really started to look into this issue again after the Jets played in a week one Monday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills. This game was played at MetLife Stadium which is a turf field. There was much hype around Aaron Rodgers being the new quarterback for the New York Jets. But, on the first play of the game, Aaron Rodgers dropped back to throw the ball and fell to the ground in excruciating pain. What looked like nothing, ended up being a season-ending achilles tear. This was terrible to see as his whole season was over just like that. This made the NFL realize they need to make this move so the players can stay safe out on the field.
The Indianapolis Colts are trying to make the transition from turf to a more safe type of grass. The Colts play on a type of turf called Shaw Sports Momentum Pro. In an article on the Indianapolis Business Journal reporter Mikey Shuey said, “ Pete Ward, Chief Operating Officer for the Indianapolis Colts, confirmed that the team hasn’t had conversations with the CIB about switching to natural grass”. The Colts decided they are going to switch their turf to a different type of turf that will be safer for the players and avoid the amount of injuries there are in the NFL today. The turf they are switching to is a more thick turf and safer for the players. The switch for the Colts will be in the offseason this year and people are going to be waiting to see if this new type of turf is actually more safe.
Many people have expressed their concerns to the NFL and people around the league. The NFL needs to push teams to grass instead of turf. No final decision has been made by many teams on if they are going to make the switch to grass fields. People are going to sit and wait to see if teams will make this transition in the coming years. Some teams may stick with their turf fields and some may switch to natural grass. We will have to wait and see.
