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NFL Defends MetLife Stadium Turf Safety at Owners Meetings

League leaders cite last season’s injury data to counter player concerns.

Overview

  • At the fall owners meetings Tuesday, NFL executive Jeff Miller said MetLife Stadium had one of the lowest injury rates in 2024 and is “playing really well.”
  • League data from last season ranked MetLife ninth for lower‑extremity injuries overall and first for visiting players.
  • NFL chief football administrative officer Dawn Aponte said the league sees no significant difference in injury rates between grass and synthetic surfaces.
  • MetLife adopted the FieldTurf Core system in 2023, yet scrutiny intensified after Malik Nabers’ season‑ending ACL this year and high‑profile injuries like Aaron Rodgers’ 2023 Achilles tear.
  • Players continue to express a preference for grass—one opposing-team executive said some are “petrified” to play there—and FIFA will require natural grass at MetLife for 2026 World Cup matches.