Overview
- Owner Art Rooney II confirmed at the NFL Scouting Combine that the stadium will switch from Kentucky bluegrass to Tahoma 31 for the 2026 season.
- The move follows the league-worst F-minus home-field grade in leaked NFLPA report cards and criticism after Oct. 12 slipping incidents that included a missed kick by Chris Boswell and a knee injury to Miles Killebrew.
- The NFL has mandated updated playing-surface standards by 2028, and Rooney said the club prefers natural grass and would only consider turf if sod farms cannot supply suitable product.
- Field safety will depend on installation timing and root establishment, as late-laid Tahoma sod created slick conditions at Super Bowl LVII.
- Separate stadium work includes a first phase to replace about 22,000 seats now underway, with nearly all seating targeted for replacement by 2028 at an estimated total cost near $18 million.