NFL Players vs. Owners: The Looming Battle Over Playing Surfaces in CBA Talks

NFL Owners Push for Turf, Players Demand Grass Ahead of CBA Talks

The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) doesn’t expire until 2031, but negotiations are already underway—with a surprising new battleground emerging: playing surfaces. While the league eyes an 18-game regular season by 2028 to boost revenue, players are rallying around a different priority: ensuring all games are played on natural grass.

Why the Playing Surface Debate Matters in CBA Talks

The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) is signaling that surface quality will be a key bargaining chip in upcoming negotiations. With discussions over schedule expansion and revenue sharing looming, players are framing grass fields as a non-negotiable quality-of-life issue.

NFLPA president JC Tretter has criticized owners for prioritizing cost-saving artificial turf installations, particularly in preparation for the FIFA World Cup, which will use 11 NFL stadiums this summer. Eight of those stadiums will temporarily switch from turf to natural grass for World Cup matches.

“You look at FIFA,” Tretter said, “owners will roll out the green carpet for soccer players.”

Player Preferences vs. Owner Cost-Cutting

NFL players have long expressed a strong preference for natural grass, citing concerns over injury risks, surface feel, and overall playing experience. Despite this, more stadiums are adopting artificial turf due to its lower maintenance costs and consistency.

For the 2026 season, the breakdown of NFL playing surfaces is as follows:

• 15 stadiums will use natural grass
• 15 stadiums will use artificial turf
• 2 stadiums will use hybrid systems

Grass vs. Turf: A Decades-Long Dispute

The debate over playing surfaces isn’t new. Former NFL quarterback Luke McCown highlighted the issue in a May 13, 2026, tweet, referencing player surveys conducted over decades that consistently showed a preference for grass.

“We’ve told the NFL this easily for 2 decades… this is not new. We took surveys after (most) every season I played in and this was always one of the questions. the resounding majority was we preferred grass. Yet more turf field put in not less. They’ve just (seemed) to not…”

McCown’s remarks underscore the frustration among players, who argue that despite clear feedback, artificial turf installations continue to rise.

What’s at Stake in the Upcoming CBA Negotiations

As the NFL and NFLPA prepare to discuss an expanded 18-game regular season, players are positioning surface quality as a critical demand. While financial compensation will remain a central topic, quality-of-life improvements—such as mandatory grass surfaces—could take center stage.

Industry analysts suggest that the NFLPA may leverage its influence in these negotiations to push for stricter standards on playing surfaces, potentially expanding demands to include facility upgrades based on annual player report cards.

“There is no question football should be played on grass,” one player advocate noted, “but it’s a move that isn’t without its challenges.”