Players Furious Over Hazardous Field Conditions at Steelers' Acrisure Stadium!
PITTSBURGH – Tensions flared last weekend as players from both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns voiced strong frustrations over what they described as the "embarrassing" state of the playing surface at Acrisure Stadium. According to a source from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), the concerns were serious enough that the union officially raised the issue with the NFL.
"The NFLPA has communicated its worries to the league and will take steps to prevent players from facing this situation again," the source told ESPN on Wednesday.
Several players noted that the field, which was already slated for re-sodding after the game, felt "dry" and unsafe. Steelers offensive lineman Broderick Jones mentioned that during explosive movements, players were literally kicking up chunks of grass. This sparked immediate concern about potential injuries.
League spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed that the NFL has "been in contact with both the union and the team, and the club has begun the process of replacing the grass surface."
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin did not hold back either, saying on Monday, "I thought the field conditions were poor yesterday. While I’m confident that the turf will be replaced, I recognize it was a concern."
The issues on the field were not just cosmetic. Steelers kicker Chris Boswell slipped while attempting a fourth-quarter field goal, and special teams captain Miles Killebrew suffered a significant non-contact knee injury while planting on the turf. Defensive captain and NFLPA team rep Cameron Heyward was blunt about the situation: "Honestly, it was terrible. I lost a teammate to injury, and it really hit me hard."
Heyward, who is a vocal advocate for grass surfaces over synthetic turf, acknowledged that the field on Sunday fell far below the standard expected. While the NFL maintains that injury rates between synthetic turf and natural grass are comparable—citing even fewer ACL injuries on turf last season—Heyward stressed the quality of the playing surface as a key factor. "I like grass, but that wasn’t truly playable grass," he said.
An NFLPA source echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that while players generally prefer grass, not all grass fields are created equal. "The conditions at Acrisure Stadium highlight why players have long pushed for top-tier grass surfaces and why the NFLPA continues to advocate for standardized, shared maintenance practices across the league," the source said.
The stadium is shared with the University of Pittsburgh, but neither team had played at Acrisure the week leading up to Sunday. Pitt hosted Boston College on Oct. 4, and the Steelers had only one home game prior to facing the Browns, back on Sept. 14 against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the relatively light schedule for the Steelers, Pitt played four of their first five games there, and while managing field wear is always challenging, historically the worst conditions have appeared later in the season.
"Players deserve the safest, highest-quality work environment possible," the NFLPA source added. "We are actively pushing the NFL to develop better league-wide standards and to collect more surface-specific data to ensure every player competes on the best field possible, whether it’s grass or turf."
And here's the part most people miss: Even if the league argues that injury statistics are similar between grass and turf, the real issue isn’t just injury rates—it’s the consistency and quality of the playing surface. Could this be a turning point in how the NFL manages its shared stadiums? What do you think—should the league prioritize player safety over stadium scheduling and cost considerations? Sound off in the comments below!
