Over the last decade or so, the conversation about real grass fields versus artificial turf in the NFL has become a hot debate, and now that Gillette Stadium hosted many World Cup games, which saw Robert Kraft remove the turf and install grass, Patriots players have made it clear they would like that to remain the standard moving forward.
There are many pros and cons to either surface for NFL games, but around the league, the consensus appears to be that real grass is better to play on and to avoid serious injury, which many players have spoken candidly about over the years.
Several Patriots shared that sentiment ahead of the World Cup, seemingly sending a message to Kraft about their desires. Unfortunately, we haven't heard any update on whether that change might come, but we are hearing more big-name players share a similar opinion on the matter, and that could help push the plea further.
That's what 49ers tight end George Kittle spoke about recently, and although he didn't explicitly back up what Patriots players said, his comments further demonstrate just how important the issue is for players around the league, even among some of the biggest names on other teams.
George Kittle echoes what Patriots players have said about playing conditions on NFL fields
It's also important that the NFLPA shared Kittle's quote, which presumably means they support his push to reintroduce grass in the NFL.
Players deserve to be treated as a priority, not as a budget line item. #WorthTheCost pic.twitter.com/j01CvufKe0
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) June 26, 2026
There's a good chance that if more players of Kittle's caliber speak up, the league and team owners will take their opinions more seriously. It's the sad but likely truth, and for a team like the Patriots, it could make a big difference in whether Kraft makes the change.
It's been nearly 20 years since they last had grass at Gillette Stadium, and a lot has changed in that time, especially in how injuries are understood across the league.
Because several players believe turf increases the chance of getting hurt, and there appears to be science that backs that up, the switch from turf to grass should be taken far more seriously, just as Kittle said.
There hasn't been any suggestion that Kraft is even considering making the switch, and we probably won't hear anything about it in the near future. But if he wants to maintain some trust from his team, then he should have a conversation with them about it and seriously consider what they have to say.
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