TAMPA, Fla. — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers ripped the playing surface at Raymond James Stadium after Sunday’s 26-19 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“It’s got to be one of the worst playing surfaces in the league. When we’re talking about player safety, that’s a real concern,” Rodgers said. “I’m thankful I didn’t get hurt today, but I’ve been injured twice on this field before, and in my opinion, the turf was a factor both times. I know USF plays here, but that surface just doesn’t feel very safe. From my perspective, it’s a field that needs to be looked at because player safety should always come first.”
Rodgers suffered a calf injury in 2015 and a shoulder injury in 2008 when playing at Raymond James Stadium.
#Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers calls out Raymond James Stadium for being “one of the worst surfaces in the league.” pic.twitter.com/Rc2eaJOGR3
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) October 18, 2026
Rodgers and Cam Heyward ripped the field conditions at Acrisure Stadium after the team’s Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns last year. Special teams ace Miles Killebrew suffered an ACL injury in the game.
Rodgers called the field conditions borderline unplayable.
“I just felt like it got real beat up,” Rodgers said of the field. “By the time the third quarter rolled around, that thing was really beat up, so I feel bad about what happened to Miles (Killebrew). I’m not sure if you know there was any carry there. I know the field gets a lot of play.”
The field was so bad last year that the Steelers received an F- grade for their home playing surface in the 2026 NFLPA report card, ranking last in the league.
This year, the Steelers installed a new type of grass from a new suppler, going with a special blend called Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass from Precision Turf in — ironically — Atlanta, instead of Kentucky Bluegrass, hoping that it will hold up to the extreme wear and tear put on the stadium by it being shared by the Steelers and the Pitt Panthers.
Rodgers is impressed with the new surface at Acrisure Stadium. Apparently, the Bucs have not fixed their field, however. And the four-time NFL MVP called them out for it.
“Whoever was maintaining the field, bravo,” Rodgers said after the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Tampa Bay.
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