Steelers and Browns players criticize ’embarrassing’ Actress Stadium.
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It wasn’t just players from the Cleveland Browns who were frustrated with the playing surface at Actress Stadium last Sunday — some Pittsburgh Steelers players even have a bone to pick on their home turf.
Players from both teams reportedly expressed their “outrage” over the “embarrassing” grass field at Pittsburgh’s Acressor Stadium in front of the NFL Players Association. Per ESPN.
“The NFLPA has conveyed its concerns to the NFL and will work to ensure players are not put in this position moving forward,” the source told the outlet on Wednesday.
Steelers offensive lineman Broderick Jones was among the players who called out the field, saying the dry conditions would result in “kicking up pieces of grass” when they attempted to make explosive plays.
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Dillon Gabriel of the Cleveland Browns is sacked by Nick Herbig of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter of the game at Acressor Stadium on October 12, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
There was also a clear moment where the field battled against the home team, as place kicker Chris Boswell clearly slipped on a field goal attempt and immediately began kicking the ground.
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The stadium was scheduled to be re-equipped after the match, but that did not prevent the players from expressing their opinions.
“I thought they were bad,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Monday of the field conditions. “I’m not worried about moving forward. I understand that this turf will be replaced, but I certainly admit it was a concern yesterday.”
Cameron Heyward, the Steelers’ defensive captain, was more blunt in his assessment.
“Honestly, it was bad,” Heyward, who also serves as a representative for the NFLPA, said Tuesday via ESPN. “I lost one of my teammates and that makes me sad about it.”
Chris Boswell of the Pittsburgh Steelers scores a field goal against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter of the game at Actress Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Pittsburgh. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Heyward talks about special teams captain Myles Killebrew, who suffered a knee injury after landing on the turf in Sunday’s win over the Browns.
“I like grass, but it wasn’t playing grass,” Heyward said.
The NFL has repeatedly stated that there is no difference in injury rates between playing on grass or artificial turf, although players like Heyward will consistently say they would prefer grass if given the choice.
The Steelers share Acrisure Stadium with the University of Pittsburgh football program, although neither team played in the stadium the previous week. The Steelers had played just one home game all season before Sunday, having been on the road or in London before having an early bye week.
Myles Killebrew of the Pittsburgh Steelers is helped off the field after being injured against the Cleveland Browns at Acressor Stadium on October 12, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
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Sharing the field is nothing new for the stadium crew, but moving forward, the Steelers will be keeping a close eye on their playing surface.
They’ll be on the road for “Thursday Night Football” against the Cincinnati Bengals this week before returning home for Aaron Rodgers’ rematch against his former team, the Green Bay Packers, on October 26.
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