'Embarrassing': Turf trouble haunts NFL at home and abroad

The soccer field used during the NFL's first game in Brazil last Friday was a pitiful sight for everyone involved.

From the players representing the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles to the platform record average of 14.2 million viewers on NBC's Peacock, the slippery, divot-riddled surface at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo left many disappointed.

Although the NFL's popularity is soaring, the league still hasn't gotten a handle on the quality of its playing surfaces - at home or abroad.

"I mean, y'all saw out there that it was kind of rough to get traction," Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts told reporters after Philadelphia's 34-29 victory. "Definitely challenging on that field. It's not the type of field we're used to playing on. We've had that type of field before. They had to play on it as well. I'm just happy that we found a way to figure it out as a team and overcome it."

Over the past several days, multiple players reiterated their frustrations regarding the slippery field to theScore. They were granted anonymity so they could speak freely.

"We shouldn't have to be worrying about how much we're going to slip on this big stage," one player said. "We're running full speed, playing our hearts out - and you just see guys slipping everywhere, left and right, no matter where you look. It was embarrassing."

"That was the worst field I've ever played on," another player said. "Never seen anything like it."

For the Eagles, the playing surface brought unfortunate memories to mind.

"It kind of reminded me of the Super Bowl turf. ... It was slick out there," tight end Dallas Goedert told reporters, alluding to the field used in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Regardless of the host country, these recurring slippery surfaces on grand stages undermine the league's product and talent.

According to the NFLPA's annual team report, 92% of players said they prefer playing on grass over turf. The playing surface at Corinthians Arena, which has hosted soccer matches for the World Cup, Olympics, and Copa America, uses GrassMaster, a product that combines real grass with turf-fiber elements.

With health and safety in mind, identifying the right blend of traction and depth in future international playing surfaces should be near the top of the NFL's to-do list.

Setting aside international games, the NFL has experienced multiple field-related hiccups in its own backyard. Since opening in 2010, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey - home of the New York Giants and Jets - has come under regular scrutiny from players around the league. Many believe the unpopular turf is the root cause of several injuries.

Earlier this year, Giants owner John Mara announced MetLife Stadium will install a grass field for the 2026 World Cup games it's hosting, as will the NFL stadiums in the other 10 U.S. cities that don't already have grass. FIFA mandates the use of grass fields for World Cup matches, and the announcement of the temporary conversions prompted an uproar about why all the NFL's outdoor stadiums weren't already grass.

Back in Brazil, the slippery surface was apparent from the opening kickoff.

During the Eagles' first drive, running back Saquon Barkley slipped in the backfield, resulting in a 5-yard loss on his first rushing attempt. When that drive ended, Barkley switched to seven-stud cleats for additional grip and traction. He urged his teammates to follow suit.

It wasn't just Barkley who struggled initially with his footing. Packers quarterback Jordan Love, receivers Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks, and running back Emanuel Wilson, along with Hurts and Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, all slipped during crucial moments.

Swapping cleats proved critical as Barkley finished with 132 total yards and three touchdowns in his Eagles debut.

The field conditions were so distracting that the controversy quickly evolved into one of sports' biggest headlines.

"My brother and I were saying players should be pissed about this," former Packers offensive lineman David Bakhtiari posted on X. "There needs to be a consistent playing surface across all fields that players step on. No one wants to watch players slip, or dudes' feet being locked in the turf, increasing the (percentage) of injury. It's 2024. The NFL is King. They got more than enough money. Spend a little to get a lot back. The fans and players deserve it."

Under commissioner Roger Goodell, the league has aggressively pursued international growth and expansion, including through the NFL International Series.

There are four more international games in Europe this season from Weeks 5-10. Two games (Jets vs. Vikings; Jaguars vs. Bears) will be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, one (Patriots vs. Jaguars) at Wembley Stadium in London, and another (Giants vs. Panthers) at Allianz Arena in Munich. During last year's London series, multiple Bills and Jaguars players criticized the turf at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With more eyes on the NFL's international product than ever, it's in the league's best interest to address concerns about field and surface quality immediately.

Given this track record, though, it seems likely the NFL - and consequently its players - will slip up again.

Josh Tolentino is theScore's lead NFL writer.