George Kittle is at the World Cup, and he noticed something.
Attending a match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Kittle took to X to share his thoughts on the playing surface:
Your first guess might be that this is a jab at Levi’s Stadium. The field has been re-sodded repeatedly over the years, players have complained about divots flying up mid-play, and Denver Broncos players called the surface “terrible” after Super Bowl 50. It got much better as time went on, thankfully.
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Kittle has been positive about the surface at Levi’s. He has also been one of the louder voices on the subject of NFL playing surfaces. Back in 2022, Kittle made a point after an injury-marred victory over the Carolina Panthers, saying, “I’d much rather play on grass. That’s why I love Jed York. We have the nicest grass in the NFL.”
SoFi has turf. And Kittle’s recent post could be less on his home field and more on the teams that play on turf year-round. MetLife Stadium, which has claimed a number of 49ers players with its turf (including Mykel Williams in 2025), is one place where a grass surface could reduce the risk of injury.
The broader NFL turf debate has gotten louder this offseason — players have been openly frustrated that several stadiums installed natural grass for the World Cup while insisting on artificial turf for football. If it doesn’t make any sense, that’s because it doesn’t.
Well, there’s one thing that may make sense: how much it costs to put this grass in for 17+ games a year.
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Do you think this was a jab at Levi’s or Kittle calling for more grass on the turf-based fields in the NFL?
