Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams took to social media to participate in what at least one NFL insider framed as a “viral campaign to call out” ownership across the NFL.
Williams’ message quickly went viral.
Roster changes happen often around the league, as do outlooks for individual teams. But some of the things that players have longed for remain, so far, beyond their grasp. That is what Williams and several others are speaking out about on Friday.
Caleb Williams Joins ‘Viral’ Push Ahead of Bears’ Training Camp
Bears QB Caleb Williams Wants Grass Fields Across NFL
The NFL and each of its individual team owners are facing an increased level of outcry from the player base. Williams, Bears teammate Rome Odunze–who shared his 2024 draft classmate’s message–and others showed their unity on Friday.
Williams shared a picture on X on Jul 17 of the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium from the field POV, as an individual tends to it for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Juxtaposed onto the image were the words, “Why can’t we have this too?”
Additionally, the image also had the hashtag “#WorthTheCost” on it, which Williams captioned his post with. It is a reminder of one of the most common arguments against the league-wide implementation of natural grass surfaces.
In February, Mass General Brigham published its findings that players suffered injuries more often on turf compared to grass. Per the National Center for Biotechnology Information in August 2024, studies of the 2021 and 2022 seasons found players suffered .2 injuries more per game on turf compared to grass.
Moreover, “the odds of injury requiring season-ending surgery were found to be significantly higher on artificial turf compared with natural grass.”
Player preference is clear, and for obvious reasons.
“If stadiums can make grass work for the World Cup, they can make it work for NFL players,” veteran free agent Shelby Harris said in a post on X on July 17. “We’re #WorthTheCost.”
Of the 30 NFL stadiums, 16 have natural grass, including Soldier Field, which the Bears notoriously do not own. So, as much as he would benefit from other stadiums following the Bears’ lead, Williams’ actions are also a strong sign of solidarity with his fellow players.
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft also joined the fray.
Kraft and the Packers, like Williams and the Bears, play on natural grass for their home games. His participation further underscores how much players are taking up for their brethren.
A search of the hashtag reveals just how deep the player-driven movement runs. It is notable as teams around the league prepare for training camp soon. However, the NFL has long dug its heels in on the status quo, meaning this fight could drag on.
NFL Gets Supporting Argument From FIFA
Williams and Odunze’s efforts are commendable. That is despite the Bears duo having a slightly less vested interest in the outcome than some of their peers. But the NFL likely already has its list of reasons against making the changes prepared.
“It’s a project that FIFA says needed six to seven years of research to implement. It was a massive overhaul in which field use was banned at each stadium for approximately 10 weeks ahead of the World Cup to ensure there were no other events before and during the five-plus weeks of soccer competition,” ESPN’s Jordan Raanan wrote on July 12.
“The 11 U.S. stadiums have since been equipped with warm or cool season grass hybrids, depending on the environment. Each field took weeks to install with grass grown on what’s called ‘sod-on-plastic.’ This technique allows the surface to be deconstructed, rolled up and shipped with its root system preserved. Specialized stitching machines sew the field into place upon delivery and weeks of maintenance with help from newly installed ventilation systems and grow lights keep the grass pristine for soccer’s biggest stage.”
Unfortunately, the argument continues in a way that underscores just what kind of battle the players could be in for.
Per Ranaan, the exclusivity deals were “imperative for FIFA to operate” in the US.
Grass vs. Turf Actually Players vs. Ownership
NFL stadiums host numerous events. So, players are not only asking for increased maintenance costs for themselves, but also for the non-football events they host.
Either that, or owners could consider cutting down on the non-football events they host, which means less revenue.
This is a situation of millionaires pushing billionaires.
Still, the court of public opinion has long sided with the former. The response from players to the events around the World Cup all but ensures that the tug-of-war will not stop anytime soon. That is, barring an actual resolution.
