The argument over artificial turf has lived in the NFL for so long that it’s started to feel permanent, like the painted yard lines or the weekly injury report. Players keep asking whether the surface beneath their cleats is putting them at risk. Fans and researchers have also raised concerns, while the league has continued to evaluate the issue through the internal data.
The NFL recently released updated injury statistics that suggest little difference between artificial turf and natural grass.
The NFL Revealed Injury Stats on Artificial Turf vs. Real Grass
During a media call reviewing injury trends from the 2025 season, NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Miller and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alan Sills shared data comparing injuries across the playing surfaces. According to the league, the injury rate on artificial turf was 0.43, while the rate on natural grass was 0.42, which the NFL says is “statistically the same,” according to columnist Judy Battista.
League officials said that overall injury trends have improved, noting several developments from the 2025 season.
ACL tears declined to a seven-year low, with 32 reported cases, a 25% reduction from the previous season. Non-contact injury rate fell to 0.34, which is roughly half of what the league recorded between 2018 and 2022. Dr. Sills said that these changes reflect ongoing improvements in training, equipment, rules, and field management.
However, some analysts and researchers have noted that the league’s injury rate includes all injuries, regardless of whether they are likely influenced by the playing surface. This includes concussions, upper-body injuries, and contact-related injuries that may occur at similar rates on any field type.
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According to clutchpoints.com, independent studies have taken a more focused approach, particularly examining lower-body injuries. Research from the National Center for Health Research found that playing on artificial turf was associated with a higher risk of certain knee injuries, including PCL injuries and ACL tears.
A separate study published in 2024, which analyzed NFL data from the 2021 and 2022 seasons, concluded that serious injuries requiring surgery occurred more frequently on artificial surfaces.
At the same time, the NFL has stressed that field conditions, including maintenance, consistency, and wear, may be as important as surface type. Dr. Sills explained that the league is increasingly evaluating each stadium individually rather than categorizing injuries solely by turf or grass.
A spokesperson from the NFL’s Player Health & Safety department added that the league’s internal data does not show a meaningful difference in either the number or severity of injuries between the two surfaces.
Decisions regarding playing surfaces remain with individual teams and stadium operators. As of 2025, 15 NFL stadiums use natural grass, and 15 use artificial turf.
