George Kittle isn’t letting the NFL off the hook about discussing the use of grass fields.
The San Francisco 49ers tight end renewed his push for natural grass playing surfaces this week, with the NFL Players Association amplifying his comments on its official X account. Kittle pointed directly to the 2026 FIFA World Cup as evidence that NFL stadiums are more than capable of making the switch.
“We’ve made it clear that we prefer grass fields,” Kittle said in the NFLPA post. “We know it’s better on our bodies. And clearly, we know it’s possible based on everything that went into putting down grass fields for the World Cup in each stadium.
“At this point, it comes down to the NFL making it a priority and choosing to invest in us as players, because our bodies are our business, which they get to capitalize on.
Kittle first raised the point during the United States men’s national team’s World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium earlier this month, noting that FIFA required all World Cup venues to install natural grass for the tournament — a mandate that several NFL stadiums complied with. For Kittle and other players who have long advocated for natural surfaces, the World Cup served as proof that professional-quality grass is achievable in venues that typically rely on artificial turf.
His latest comments go a step further, framing the issue as one of player investment.
With World Cup matches still ongoing at NFL venues across the country, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the grass conversation grow louder among players before the tournament concludes. The next step is whether or not the NFL does anything about it now, or waits until the next Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations after the 2030 season.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: George Kittle doubles down on grass fields stance
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
