

Require MetLife Stadium to replace artificial turf with natural grass
The Issue
38 PLAYERS. 41 SERIOUS LOWER BODY INJURY INCIDENTS. ONE STADIUM.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
MetLife Stadium must permanently replace its artificial turf with natural grass.
From Domenik Hixon tearing his ACL during the first Giants practice at the new stadium in 2010 to Brian Burns suffering a frightening right knee injury on September 27, 2026, the list of injured players has continued to grow.
These are not just statistics.
Odell Beckham Jr.
Sterling Shepard.
Aaron Rodgers.
Nick Bosa.
Malik Nabers.
Brian Burns.
These are star players whose seasons, careers and bodies have been placed at risk on the same field. Giants, Jets and visiting players have all been affected.
They proved natural grass is possible
MetLife Stadium installed natural grass for the 2026 World Cup, supported by a fully automated irrigation system, ventilation technology and specialized lighting.
Within days of the World Cup final, they removed the grass and installed artificial turf again.
The Giants also regularly practice on natural grass. Their training facility has three outdoor grass fields. If grass is considered valuable enough for practice and required for the world’s best soccer players, it should be available to NFL players on game day.
They had the grass.
They built the infrastructure.
Then they chose artificial turf again.
The players injured at MetLife Stadium
The following list documents 38 players and 41 serious lower body injury incidents reported at MetLife Stadium since it opened.
2010
Domenik Hixon, Giants, torn ACL
Kris Jenkins, Jets, torn ACL
2011
Terrell Thomas, Giants, torn ACL
Domenik Hixon, Giants, second torn ACL at the stadium
2013
Stevie Brown, Giants, torn ACL
2017
Odell Beckham Jr., Giants, fractured ankle
Brandon Marshall, Giants, season ending ankle injury
Dwayne Harris, Giants, fractured foot
Sterling Shepard, Giants, ankle injury
2019
Ryan Connelly, Giants, torn ACL
C.J. Mosley, Jets, groin injury
Trevor Siemian, Jets, severe ankle ligament damage
2020
Nick Bosa, 49ers, torn ACL
Solomon Thomas, 49ers, torn ACL
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers, high ankle sprain
Raheem Mostert, 49ers, MCL sprain
Tevin Coleman, 49ers, knee sprain
Jordan Reed, 49ers, knee injury
2021
Blake Martinez, Giants, torn ACL
Sterling Shepard, Giants, torn Achilles
Jabrill Peppers, Giants, torn ACL and high ankle sprain
James Robinson, Jaguars, torn Achilles
2022
Kyle Fuller, Ravens, torn ACL
Ja’Wuan James, Ravens, torn Achilles
Marcus McKethan, Giants, torn ACL
Darrian Beavers, Giants, torn ACL
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Giants, MCL sprain
Sterling Shepard, Giants, torn ACL
Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants, torn ACL
Tyler Larsen, Commanders, serious knee injury
Dawuane Smoot, Jaguars, torn Achilles
2023
Aaron Rodgers, Jets, torn Achilles
Al Woods, Jets, torn Achilles
Jaelan Phillips, Dolphins, torn Achilles
2024
Andrew Thomas, Giants, Lisfranc foot injury requiring surgery
2025
Joe Alt, Chargers, high ankle sprain
Malik Nabers, Giants, torn ACL
Mykel Williams, 49ers, torn ACL
Josh Jacobs, Packers, knee bone bruise and thigh contusion
2026
Zach Bako Bewele, Packers, complete patellar tendon tear requiring surgery
Brian Burns, Giants, right knee injury that left him unable to put weight on his leg. MRI results are pending.
Our demand
We call on the New York Giants, New York Jets and MetLife Stadium to permanently replace the artificial turf with a professionally maintained natural grass field.
No one is claiming that every injury was caused solely by the playing surface. But no responsible organization should ignore this history when a potentially safer surface is possible and the necessary infrastructure has already been installed.
The World Cup received natural grass because the players and organizers demanded the highest standard.
NFL players deserve that same standard.
How many more Giants, Jets and visiting players must be carried or carted from this field before ownership acts?
Keep the grass.
Protect the players.
Enough is enough.

14
The Issue
38 PLAYERS. 41 SERIOUS LOWER BODY INJURY INCIDENTS. ONE STADIUM.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
MetLife Stadium must permanently replace its artificial turf with natural grass.
From Domenik Hixon tearing his ACL during the first Giants practice at the new stadium in 2010 to Brian Burns suffering a frightening right knee injury on September 27, 2026, the list of injured players has continued to grow.
These are not just statistics.
Odell Beckham Jr.
Sterling Shepard.
Aaron Rodgers.
Nick Bosa.
Malik Nabers.
Brian Burns.
These are star players whose seasons, careers and bodies have been placed at risk on the same field. Giants, Jets and visiting players have all been affected.
They proved natural grass is possible
MetLife Stadium installed natural grass for the 2026 World Cup, supported by a fully automated irrigation system, ventilation technology and specialized lighting.
Within days of the World Cup final, they removed the grass and installed artificial turf again.
The Giants also regularly practice on natural grass. Their training facility has three outdoor grass fields. If grass is considered valuable enough for practice and required for the world’s best soccer players, it should be available to NFL players on game day.
They had the grass.
They built the infrastructure.
Then they chose artificial turf again.
The players injured at MetLife Stadium
The following list documents 38 players and 41 serious lower body injury incidents reported at MetLife Stadium since it opened.
2010
Domenik Hixon, Giants, torn ACL
Kris Jenkins, Jets, torn ACL
2011
Terrell Thomas, Giants, torn ACL
Domenik Hixon, Giants, second torn ACL at the stadium
2013
Stevie Brown, Giants, torn ACL
2017
Odell Beckham Jr., Giants, fractured ankle
Brandon Marshall, Giants, season ending ankle injury
Dwayne Harris, Giants, fractured foot
Sterling Shepard, Giants, ankle injury
2019
Ryan Connelly, Giants, torn ACL
C.J. Mosley, Jets, groin injury
Trevor Siemian, Jets, severe ankle ligament damage
2020
Nick Bosa, 49ers, torn ACL
Solomon Thomas, 49ers, torn ACL
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers, high ankle sprain
Raheem Mostert, 49ers, MCL sprain
Tevin Coleman, 49ers, knee sprain
Jordan Reed, 49ers, knee injury
2021
Blake Martinez, Giants, torn ACL
Sterling Shepard, Giants, torn Achilles
Jabrill Peppers, Giants, torn ACL and high ankle sprain
James Robinson, Jaguars, torn Achilles
2022
Kyle Fuller, Ravens, torn ACL
Ja’Wuan James, Ravens, torn Achilles
Marcus McKethan, Giants, torn ACL
Darrian Beavers, Giants, torn ACL
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Giants, MCL sprain
Sterling Shepard, Giants, torn ACL
Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants, torn ACL
Tyler Larsen, Commanders, serious knee injury
Dawuane Smoot, Jaguars, torn Achilles
2023
Aaron Rodgers, Jets, torn Achilles
Al Woods, Jets, torn Achilles
Jaelan Phillips, Dolphins, torn Achilles
2024
Andrew Thomas, Giants, Lisfranc foot injury requiring surgery
2025
Joe Alt, Chargers, high ankle sprain
Malik Nabers, Giants, torn ACL
Mykel Williams, 49ers, torn ACL
Josh Jacobs, Packers, knee bone bruise and thigh contusion
2026
Zach Bako Bewele, Packers, complete patellar tendon tear requiring surgery
Brian Burns, Giants, right knee injury that left him unable to put weight on his leg. MRI results are pending.
Our demand
We call on the New York Giants, New York Jets and MetLife Stadium to permanently replace the artificial turf with a professionally maintained natural grass field.
No one is claiming that every injury was caused solely by the playing surface. But no responsible organization should ignore this history when a potentially safer surface is possible and the necessary infrastructure has already been installed.
The World Cup received natural grass because the players and organizers demanded the highest standard.
NFL players deserve that same standard.
How many more Giants, Jets and visiting players must be carried or carted from this field before ownership acts?
Keep the grass.
Protect the players.
Enough is enough.

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Petition created on September 28, 2026