NFLPA - New injury data shows grass 'significantly safer' than turf

Noncontact injuries for NFL players occurred at a higher rate on artificial turf compared to grass during the 2022 regular season, according to data released this week by the NFL Players Association.

The gap arose one year after the league moved to neutralize the debate about the two types of playing surfaces based on 2021 numbers.

Players have long said they prefer grass over artificial turf, arguing it was not only safer but also that feels better to play on. In an essay posted to the NFLPA website Wednesday, union president J.C. Tretter noted that the injury rate on grass surfaces was lower from 2012 to 2020. Although the rates were essentially the same in 2021, Tretter termed that outcome an «outlier.»

«Instead of following the long-term data (which is clear on this issue), listening to players and making the game safer,» Tretter wrote, «the NFL used an outlier year to engage in a PR campaign to convince everyone that the problem doesn't actually exist.»

«In short, last year, the gap — much like the NFL's credibility with players on this issue — was as wide as it has ever been,» Tretter continued, «proving that (as the NFLPA suspected) 2021 was in fact an outlier. Now, 10 of the previous 11 years show the same exact thing — grass is a significantly safer surface than turf.»

Jeff Miller, the NFL's executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy, said in a statement released Thursday that «there are no simple answers» to this discussion.

«The NFL and the NFLPA have access to the same injury information, which is collected by independent experts and shared at the CBA-mandated Joint Field Surface Safety and Performance Committee meetings,» Miller said in the statement. «The committee, including the