How Many NFL Teams Play on Turf?

The answer may surprise you – all but six NFL teams play their home games on turf. See which teams make the switch to grass.

Introduction

In the early days of the National Football League, all games were played on natural grass. But as the popularity of the sport grew, so did the demand for faster, harder-hitting action. To meet this demand, teams began to experiment with artificial surfaces. The first team to install an artificial turf field was the Houston Oilers in 1966, and by the 1970s, several other teams had followed suit. Today, there are a total of eleven NFL teams that play their home games on artificial turf.

The following is a list of NFL teams that play on artificial turf:
-Arizona Cardinals
-Atlanta Falcons
-Baltimore Ravens
-Buffalo Bills
-Carolina Panthers
-Cincinnati Bengals
-Cleveland Browns
-Dallas Cowboys
-Detroit Lions
-Houston Texans
-Indianapolis Colts
-Jacksonville Jaguars
-Kansas City Chiefs
-Los Angeles Rams
-New England Patriots
-New Orleans Saints
Portland Seahawks
San Diego Chargers

The History of Turf in the NFL

The first stadium with an artificial turf field was Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, installed in 1976 for the Summer Olympics held in the city. The surface at the time, AstroTurf, was made of short-pile fibers and provided a playing surface that was harder than natural grass but softer than concrete. The Minnesota Vikings were the first NFL team to play on artificial turf, debuting the surface at Metropolitan Stadium in 1981.

The 1980s saw a boom in the installation of artificial turf fields in NFL stadiums. In 1988, eleven of the league’s twenty-eight teams played their home games on turf. The Seattle Seahawks were the last team to install an artificial turf field, doing so in 1999. As of 2019, eight NFL teams have grass fields and twenty play on some type of artificial turf.

The Benefits of Turf

Turf has a number of benefits over natural grass, especially in the context of NFL football. Turf is more durable, meaning it can withstand the rigors of NFL play better than grass. It also provides a more consistent playing surface, which can be helpful for players and coaches alike.

There are also some potential drawbacks to turf. It can be harder on players’ bodies, and someplayers believe it leads to more injuries. There is also a perception that turf favors speedy players and makes the game less enjoyable to watch.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to use turf or grass is up to each individual team. Some teams, like the New England Patriots, have switched back and forth between the two surfaces depending on what they believe will give them the best competitive advantage.

The Drawbacks of Turf

AstroTurf and similar surfaces were invented in the 1960s and became widely used in the 1970s. The first generation of AstroTurf, sometimes called AstroTurf 801, was made of nylon fibers imbedded in a rubber and sand base. A second generation, called OmniTurf, was made of polypropylene fibers imbedded in a rubber base. Today’s third generation surfaces are made of polyethylene fibers (often called slit film), which look more like natural grass than their predecessors.

While AstroTurf and similar surfaces were once seen as revolutionary products that would change the game of football forever, many drawbacks to playing on turf have become apparent over the years. One such drawback is an increased risk of injury. A study conducted by the American Football Coaches Association found that players on artificial turf had a 58 percent higher rate of knee injuries than those playing on grass.

How Many Teams Currently Play on Turf?

As of the 2019 NFL season, there are 11 teams that play their home games on artificial turf. This includes both natural grass and FieldTurf, which is a type of artificial grass that is made to look and feel like real grass.

The 11 teams that currently play on turf are the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles.

Of these 11 teams, four (the Cardinals, Bengals, Broncos, and Texans) play their home games on natural grass. The other seven teams all play their home games on FieldTurf.

So why do some teams choose to play on turf while others choose natural grass? There are a few reasons.

First of all, turf is less expensive to install and maintain than natural grass. It also doesn’t need to be replaced as often as natural grass does.

Another reason is that turf can be used in all kinds of weather conditions. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining or snowing outside—the game can still be played on turf without any problems.

Finally, some people believe that playing on turf gives players an advantage because it’s a faster surface than natural grass. This can help players run faster and make quicker cuts while they’re playing.

Which Teams Play on Turf?

All but six of the 32 NFL teams play on some kind of artificial turf, either FieldTurf or another type of synthetic grass. The six exceptions are the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers.

The Cardinals, Bengals, Cowboys and Packers all have grass fields at their homes stadiums. The Ravens and Bears both have grass fields at their homes stadiums but also have a second field that is turf for practice and sometimes for games in poor weather conditions.

The Pittsburgh Steelers used to have a grass field but switched to FieldTurf in 2001.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 23 out of 32 NFL teams play on turf. While grass is still the most popular playing surface, turf has become increasingly popular in recent years. Turf is seen as a more durable and consistent playing surface, which is why many teams have made the switch.