Which NFL Teams Have Grass Fields?
In the NFL, there are a handful of teams that still play on natural grass fields. Here’s a look at which teams have grass fields and why they choose to do so.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s National Football Conference (NFC) North division. It is the third-oldest franchise in the NFL, dating back to 1919, and is the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team based in the United States. Home games have been played at Lambeau Field since 1957.
The Packers are the last vestige of small town teams that were common in the NFL during the league’s early days of 1920–1940. Founded in 1919 by Earl “Curly” Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun, the franchise traces its lineage to other semi-professional teams in Green Bay dating back to 1896. Between 1919 and 1920, the Packers competed against other semi-pro clubs from around Wisconsin and Michigan, before joining the American Professional Football Association (APFA), the forerunner of today’s NFL, in 1921. Although Green Bay is by far the smallest major league professional sports market in North America, Forbes ranked the Packers as being worth US$1.02 billion in 2015 — making them Tom Brady’s favorite team by value.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are one of the teams in the National Football League that have a grass field. The playing surface at Gillette Stadium is made up of Tifway 419 Bermuda grass. The field was installed in 2006 and has a drainage system that helps the turf withstand heavy use and bad weather conditions.
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league’s American Football Conference East division. The team is headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey. In a unique arrangement for the league, the Jets share MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey with the New York Giants. The franchise is legally and corporately registered as New York Jets, LLC.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the few NFL teams that still play their home games on grass. Grass is a natural surface that provides players with good footing and traction. It also helps to protect players from impact injuries.
San Francisco 49ers
Yes, the San Francisco 49ers play their home games on grass at Levi’s Stadium.
