The NFL’s current collective bargaining agreement was ratified back in March of 2020. It was an 11-year deal that was approved by players through the end of the 2030 season.
Looking back, some players aren’t happy about how the CBA negotiations went down. That includes former NFL defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko, who ripped into the NFLPA for not having its priorities in order.
Breiden Fehoko Calls Out NFLPA’s Priorities In Last CBA Negotiations
Fehoko was disappointed in the NFLPA for emphasizing certain aspects of the bargaining agreement and leaving some stones unturned.
One of the major points that the NFLPA focused on had to do with the thresholds of marijuana during drug tests. The NFLPA didn’t fight too hard for grass fields, though, which has been a major talking point given turf-related injuries and the temporary switch to grass in some NFL stadiums for the FIFA World Cup.
“The players union instead of fighting for grass fields, health care, player safety, in our last CBA. Fought for higher weed smoking levels to pass drug tests. 6 years later same people re-elected and same cries in deaf ears. This union doesn’t care and these owners don’t either,” said Fehoko.
The players union instead of fighting for grass fields, health care, player safety, in our last CBA. Fought for higher weed smoking levels to pass drug tests.
6 years later same people re-elected and same cries in deaf ears. This union doesn’t care and these owners don’t either.
— Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) July 22, 2026
The grass fields have been discussed for a few offseasons now, but it seems the owners aren’t open to a mandate that all fields be grass-only.
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The World Cup forced certain NFL stadiums to replace their turf fields with grass fields because that is the standard in professional soccer. But after the World Cup, the grass fields were removed, and the old turf was restored.
It seems Fehoko doesn’t believe that the union tried hard enough to protect its players by pushing for grass fields, which could help reduce the number of brutal, non-contact injuries that have occurred on turf.
Fehoko appears to be referencing JC Tretter, who was elected NFLPA president in March 2020 as the CBA was being ratified and led the union from 2020–2024. Tretter was recently named the executive director of the union, as Fehoko alluded to, so it seems he doesn’t expect much to change the next time the players are at the table with the owners.
