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It wasn’t just Cleveland Browns players who were frustrated with the playing surface at Acrisure Stadium last Sunday: Some of the Pittsburgh Steelers have issues with their own field.
Players from both teams reportedly expressed their “outrage” over the “embarrassing” grass field at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh to the NFL Players Association, according to ESPN.
“The NFLPA has conveyed its concerns to the NFL and will work to ensure players are not left in that position in the future,” the source told the outlet Wednesday.
Steelers offensive lineman Broderick Jones was among the players who called the field, saying the dry conditions would lead to “kicking chunks of grass” while trying to make explosive moves.
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Dillon Gabriel of the Cleveland Browns is sacked by Nick Herbig of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter of the game at Acrisure Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Pittsburgh. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
There was also a clear moment where the field struggled against the home team, when kicker Chris Boswell visibly slipped on a field goal attempt and immediately began kicking the ground.
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The field was scheduled to be repopulated after the game, but that didn’t stop the players from speaking their minds.
“I thought it was poor,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Monday of the field conditions. “I’m not worried about the future. I understand that grass will be changed, but I certainly recognize that yesterday was a concern.”
Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward was more direct with his assessment.
“Honestly, it was s—,” Heyward, who also serves as an NFLPA representative, said Tuesday via ESPN. “I lost one of my teammates and that makes me a little sad.”
Chris Boswell of the Pittsburgh Steelers kicks a field goal against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter of the game at Acrisure Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Pittsburgh. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Heyward is talking about special teams captain Miles Killebrew, who suffered a non-contact knee injury after landing on the turf in Sunday’s win over the Browns.
“I like grass, but it wasn’t grass to play on,” Heyward said.
The NFL has repeatedly stated that there is no difference in injury rates between playing on grass or synthetic turf, although players like Heyward will always say they prefer grass if given the option.
The Steelers share Acrisure Stadium with the University of Pittsburgh football program, although neither team had played on the field the previous week. The Steelers played just once at home all season before Sunday, as they were either on the road or in London before having an early bye week.
Miles Killebrew of the Pittsburgh Steelers is helped off the field after being injured against the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Pittsburgh. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Sharing the stadium is nothing new for the field staff, but moving forward, the Steelers will keep a close eye on their playing surface.
They will be on the road for “Thursday Night Football” against the Cincinnati Bengals this week before returning home for Aaron Rodgers’ reunion against his former Green Bay Packers team on October 26.
