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NFL requires all stadium playing surfaces to meet new safety standards by 2028
The NFL announced that by the start of the 2028 season, all stadium playing surfaces must meet new, enhanced standards developed through extensive lab and field testing. The initiative, outlined by NFL field director Nick Pappas on Thursday, aims to provide each team with a “library of approved and accredited NFL fields” ahead of next season. New fields will need to meet these standards immediately, and teams will have two years to bring existing surfaces—whether natural grass, synthetic, or hybrid—into compliance.
Pappas explained that artificial surfaces are typically replaced every two to three years, while natural fields can be refreshed multiple times within a season. The approval process involves rigorous testing overseen by a joint committee with the NFL Players Association. Tools like the BEAST, which replicates player movements, and the STRIKE Impact Tester, which measures field firmness, will help determine the quality and safety of each surface. The league’s goal is consistent playability across all stadiums and throughout the season, focusing on player safety, field performance, and feedback.
The NFL is not mandating natural grass, as league medical officials have found no statistically significant differences in lower-body injuries or concussions between grass and artificial fields. Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, emphasized that injuries are influenced by multiple factors, including player workload, fatigue, cleats, and positional demands, making the field just one component of a complex equation.
Pappas also highlighted preparations for the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The field has been cultivated at a sod farm east of the Bay Area, with Pappas visiting frequently over the past 18 months. Installation is planned for late January, though timing could shift if the 49ers advance in the playoffs.
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