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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 a problem to sort out with their own field.
Players from both teams have reportedly expressed their “outrage” over the “embarrassing” turf field at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium to the NFL Players Association, according to ESPN.
“The NFLPA has expressed its concerns to the NFL and will ensure that players are not placed in this position in the future,” the source told the outlet on Wednesday.
Steelers offensive lineman Broderick Jones was among the players who called out on the field, saying the dry conditions would result in “pieces of grass being thrown around” when they attempted 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 fought against the home team, as kicker Chris Boswell visibly slipped during a field goal attempt and immediately began kicking on the ground.
LARRY FITZGERALD SAYS GRASS FIELDS ARE NOT “WEAK IN MOST LOCATIONS” DESPITE PLAYER INJURIES
The pitch had to be resurfaced after the match, but that didn’t stop the players from speaking out.
“I thought it was poor,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Monday of the conditions on the field. “I’m not worried about the future. My understanding is that this turf is going to be replaced, but I certainly recognize that it was a concern yesterday.”
Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward was more direct in his assessment.
“Honestly, it was crap,” Heyward, who is also 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 scores 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 talks about special teams captain Miles Killebrew, who suffered a non-contact knee injury after planting on the turf during Sunday’s win over the Browns.
“I like turf, but it wasn’t turf to play on,” Heyward said.
The NFL has repeatedly stated that there is no difference in injury rates between playing on turf or artificial turf, although players like Heyward will consistently say they prefer turf if given the choice.
The Steelers share Acrisure Stadium with the University of Pittsburgh football program, even though neither team had played on the field the previous week. The Steelers only played one home game all season before Sunday, as they were either on the road or in London before getting 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 crew, but moving forward, the Steelers will keep a close eye on their playing surface.
They’ll be on the road for “Thursday Night Football” against the Cincinnati Bengals this week before returning home for Aaron Rodgers’ reunion against his former team the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 26.
