Saquon Barkley, running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, has voiced his opinion that the NFL should reconsider the use of artificial turf fields now that the FIFA World Cup required grass surfaces at NFL stadiums used as venues. Out of the 11 World Cup venues in the United States, seven were NFL stadiums that typically use artificial turf, but FIFA regulations mandated grass surfaces for the tournament.

Barkley told Fox News Digital in a recent interview, "I think it’s going to be hard for them to argue against that because if you’re able to do it for the World Cup, it doesn’t really make sense." He added, "And I will say this - if the numbers show that playing on grass versus turf is better for us, then I think that’s more than enough."

Despite Barkley's own serious injuries occurring on grass—including a torn ACL in Chicago in 2020—he acknowledges that many factors are beyond control. His 2,000-yard season came during his first year with the Eagles, who play home games on grass.

The NFL announced late last year that each team would receive "a library of approved and accredited NFL fields" before the 2026 season begins. However, Allen Sills, the NFL's Chief Medical Officer, stated there are no "statistically significant differences" in lower-extremity injuries or concussions attributable to the type of playing surface.

The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) has also highlighted player safety concerns, joking about rolling out the "green carpet" for soccer players and supporting a social media movement emphasizing that player safety is "#WorthTheCost."

Sources