Jerry Jones dismisses grass debate as Cowboys prepare for FIFA World Cup matches
Dallas is about to host a major tournament in a stadium with real grass, but Jerry Jones still isn’t convinced that means the Cowboys should switch away from artificial turf.
The longtime owner has reaffirmed plans to return to turf once the 2026 World Cup wraps up, even after AT&T Stadium was fitted with a grass surface for the nine scheduled matches. He also addressed one of the ongoing debates in football. “We have no belief that it’s any safer to play on grass,” said Jones, adding fuel to an argument that never really went away.
For a long time, players around the league have argued that natural grass is easier on the body than artificial turf. The NFL Players Association has been vocal too, consistently pushing for more teams to make the switch to grass fields.
The AT&T Stadium installation meets FIFA requirements and will host nine World Cup matches, including a semi-final. The natural grass field sits on top of the existing surface and will be removed once the tournament ends, at which point Dallas will revert to artificial turf. That sequence hasn’t gone unnoticed by players across the league, raising a simple question: If natural grass is suitable for the World Cup, why isn’t it an option for NFL games during the rest of the year?
Jerry Jones stays firm on artificial turf stance
Jones didn’t just defend the Cowboys’ decision to stick with artificial turf – he went a step further, questioning the widely held belief that grass is inherently safer. He’s made it clear that, in his view, there’s no real difference between modern turf and natural grass when it comes to player safety. Instead, he points to the versatility artificial surfaces provide for a stadium that hosts more than just football games.
For him, this isn’t about one surface being better than the other – it’s about different sports having different needs. As one of the most influential owners in the league, his opinion tends to carry weight across the NFL.
The debate remains alive in part because the data is interpreted differently by each side. The NFLPA continues to highlight studies showing higher rates of non-contact lower-body injuries on artificial surfaces, with several analyses indicating increased rates of knee, foot and ankle injuries on turf compared to grass.
Why the Cowboys aren’t switching to grass
The league has responded by saying the injury data is more nuanced than that and has collaborated with manufacturers to enhance modern turf systems.
There’s no clear consensus across the board. What’s obvious, though, is that many players have already taken a stance: a recent NFLPA survey showed strong support for natural grass, with most players saying they prefer it over artificial surfaces.
Nothing Jones said suggested a change is coming. AT&T Stadium will remain a high-profile venue, the Cowboys will stick with turf, and the World Cup grass won’t be staying for long.
Still, this temporary change has created a new wrinkle in the ongoing debate. One of the sport’s most recognisable venues will host games on natural grass, something players have been vocal about wanting for years. Once the surface is removed, it’s hard to see those questions fading away quietly.
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