Debate Rages Over NFL Playing Surfaces as Star Quarterback’s Injury Raises Concerns
The injury to New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has reignited a discussion over playing surfaces in the NFL. Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles during a game against the Buffalo Bills, leading some of his former teammates to voice their disapproval of turf on social media platforms.
Jets coach Robert Saleh acknowledged the concerns surrounding Rodgers’ injury and stated that if it had been a non-contact injury, he would have been more worried about the turf at MetLife Stadium. However, he also mentioned that grass is the preferred choice for players. Rodgers was sacked by Bills linebacker Leonard Floyd when he sustained the injury.
MetLife Stadium recently switched its playing surface from a slit-film to a multilayer dual-polymer monofilament fiber known as FieldTurf Core. Slit-film surfaces are created by cutting blades into a single piece of material, resembling netting to keep the infill in place. Some players have referred to this type of turf as grabby. On the other hand, a monofilament surface, like the one used at MetLife Stadium, is considered harder and faster but designed to release cleats.
Although some Jets players mentioned their preference for natural grass, they also noted that the new field at MetLife felt like an improvement compared to the previous slit-film surface.
The NFL has been gathering data on playing surfaces since 2018 and discovered a significant statistical distinction in non-contact injury rates between slit-film surfaces, natural grass, and other synthetic surfaces. According to league spokespersons, this data was collected through IQVIA, a health technology company jointly appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association.
During the 2021 season, the NFL found a statistically insignificant difference in injury rates between synthetic and natural grass surfaces, based on the same data obtained from IQVIA. However, some players and personnel in the league have expressed skepticism and questioned the transparency and clarity of the NFL’s data.
In response to the renewed outcry over playing surfaces, NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller stated that the league has not observed a difference in Achilles injury rates between natural grass and synthetic surfaces. Miller referred to data collected since 2015 and emphasized the need for further research to address such substantial injuries.
Players in the NFL have been vocal about their concerns regarding less forgiving turf fields, which they believe contribute to serious, especially non-contact, injuries. Many players believe that team owners are motivated by monetary factors as synthetic surfaces enable them to save on long-term maintenance costs and facilitate non-football events without dealing with traffic damage on the playing surface. The NFL has denied these claims.
The controversy surrounding playing surfaces has also spilled over into major soccer tournaments hosted in stadiums or stadiums preparing to host the upcoming World Cup.
Stadiums like SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, used by the Rams and the Chargers, have switched to natural grass for soccer tournaments. However, their football surface still consists of synthetic material called Hellas Matrix turf. Last year, Bank of America Stadium installed a natural grass surface for an exhibition match and then reverted to an artificial surface for football season.
NFL stadiums looking to host FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, must adhere to the Quality Programme’s rigorous field testing standards. Stadiums with an artificial surface hosting a competitive FIFA match must meet the Programme’s standards or temporarily switch to approved grass.
Leading European leagues, such as the English Premier League, mostly prefer natural surfaces based on players’ preferences.
The NFL and NFL Players Association are actively working to reduce injury rates on both natural grass and synthetic surfaces. This involves studying variables such as cleat type, weather conditions, movement type during injury, and more. The league collaborates with biomechanical engineers and relies on IQVIA’s injury tracking system to collect data from all 32 NFL teams.
While concerns continue to surround playing surfaces in the NFL, further research and collaboration between stakeholders are necessary to ensure player safety and reduce injuries.
