Players who took part in Sunday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns were so upset about Acrisure Stadium’s field conditions that they filed complaints with the NFLPA, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.
The news comes on the heels of Cam Heyward and Mike Tomlin openly critiquing field conditions. Per Florio:
“Per NFL Players Association sources, players from both teams almost immediately contacted the union to express ‘outrage’ about the “embarrassing” condition of the grass. The NFLPA has conveyed its concern to the NFL.”
Despite the Steelers not playing at home since Week 2 and the Pitt Panthers away the game before, the field was a mess for last Sunday’s game. The grass looked more like infield dirt than a football gridiron and it got progressively worse over the course of the game.
By the second half, the grass between the hashmarks was completely torn up. It may have even contributed to SS Miles Killebrew suffering a severe knee injury, one that’s likely to knock him out for the rest of the season and could jeopardize his NFL career.
As shared during the broadcast, the Steelers planned to resod the field after the game. Photos of the grounds crew working the field appeared on social media in the hours and days following Sunday’s contest.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, DL Cam Heyward called the field “shit” and was “sad” over seeing Killebrew injured on it. During his Monday press conference, Mike Tomlin acknowledged conditions were “poor” though stated he was not concerned going forward.
Ben Roethlisberger suggested the idea the Pitt Panthers have their own stadium. Logistically, that could be tough in a cramped-downtown Pittsburgh full of bridges. But had the field simply been resodded prior to the game, and there was plenty of time with decent weather, the field would’ve been in great shape. Pittsburgh could also invest in different types of grass that the Green Bay Packers and now Buffalo Bills use to keep the field in great shape.
Massive props to the @BuffaloBills for putting grass—and the same hybrid the @Packers use—down at their new stadium. It might not be cost effective, but it's what is right for the players and the sport.
Pegulas had every excuse not to (climate, etc.) And did anyway. https://t.co/sPiUyJfrrT
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 15, 2025
While players are sharing their frustration, the Steelers aren’t likely to face any sort of punishment so long as Acrisure is in better shape the rest of the season. Pittsburgh has six more home games, the Panthers three, and the WPIAL championship games are held there each year (the field has traditionally been resodded after those games). Instead, the Steelers organization will be punished by the ignominy of being a professional franchise that produced a poor product this past Sunday.
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