NFL just posted a job opening for a Senior Director of Field Research and Stadium Projects.
Job Description
The Sr. Director of Fields, Field Research and Stadium Projects will lead and be on-site for all neutral site games to oversee all field-related planning and will liaise with member clubs to maintain high standards of excellence of field surface. This individual will lead all surface research, whether natural or synthetic, manage consultant experts as well as direct engagement with manufacturers, other sports leagues and the 32 clubs. In addition, this individual will collaborate on internal processes, project management, stadium and game day preparations, and issue tracking/reporting.
Responsibilities:
Field Research Workstreams and Committees
- Liaise with Health & Safety, as well as 3rd party consultants, on improved testing/tracking options and protocols
- Oversee NFL-NFLPA Joint Mandatory Practices for fields/playing surfaces and liaise with Management Council on updates/modifications
- Joint Surface Committee research and support
- Lead team responsible for overseeing and executing field maintenance plans during Halftime rehearsals at Super Bowl
International & Neutral Site Games
- Lead field surface project plans for practice and game fields for all Neutral Site Games (International Series, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl, etc.) to ensure consistency across all games.
- Procure and facilitate storage of all necessary equipment and tools for field preparation (e.g., paint machines, blowers, mowers, grow lights, field and bench area tarps, grow blankets, etc.)
- Maintain and manage field equipment warehouse inventory and shipping for all neutral site and international games
- Oversee League-hired grounds crew for all Neutral Site Games including scheduling, communications, onboarding paperwork, travel, housing, etc.
- Oversee budget for all field projects
- Identify, source and oversee any ancillary support required (e.g., fertilizer, sand, specialty equipment).
- Lead efforts with Sod Farms for all neutral site games
Stadium Operations & Game Day Support
- Primary responsibility for sharing turf/field research with clubs to aid them in field selection, replacement, preparation etc. This includes practice surfaces as well
- Part of a team that Liaises with 32 Club Field mangers to ensure day-to-day compliance with field policies & best practices
- Visit and review all new field installs, field issues/concerns, oversee compliance with NFL-NFLPA CBA/Joint Mandatory Practices
- Advise Clubs that have new stadium projects and/or renovation plans on field surfaces, best practices, field dimensions, etc. and conduct on-site walkthroughs during construction phases to ensure construction details comply with the renderings
- Review and edit relevant sections of the Game Ops manual.
- Attend periodic in-person meetings, including the Combine, Field Managers meeting, etc.
Seriously! At my high school (not even a football school) the turf was so much better than ford fields. Not even close. I know this from doing marching band and marching on both.
Before they convert every team to grass they should require an installation of an under the field water powered heating system to maintain grass/field temperatures at all outdoor stadiums. This would drastically reduce injury during the winter time when the grass is normally as hard as cement, would increase the on-field temperature, and would also reduce heavy snow from being as high of an impact as it would melt. On top of this it would ensure the field conditions across the league were nearly identical regardless of it being indoor/outdoor.
Sounds like how the police have an internal investigation and rule they did nothing wrong
Nobody seemed to bring up the turf vs grass argument when players were suffering season injuries on grass fields this year.
Turf field = more opportunities for non NFL related events. That’s pretty much what it boils down too
“Commissioner, I’ve finalized my report.”
“And?”
“Turns out, converting to grass fields will…”
“Yes? Out with it man!”
“Well, sir, it will cost money.”
“WHAT?!”
“Yessir. But we do believe simple threats to relocate teams will result in the appropriate 100% city and state funding for the conversions so we believe we should get started.”
“Oh, right, of course. Good work. Carry on.”
And it only took 30 years after Wendell Davis.
And then not do shit
1/4 of the starting QBs have had serious injuries so its worth the money.
r/NFL won’t like this but there is no good answer here.
Grass is not a cure all - it reduces certain types of injuries but it increases the chance of other types of injuries. And the condition of the grass also matters.
Maybe I’m also biased as a Seahawks fan, who knows the graveyard for our players is Glendale, a grass stadium.
I mow my lawn occasionally. I’m totally qualified and I applied.
I nominate Nick Bosa.
“Grass good, use grass.”
There is no reason to ban artificial turf. We aren’t playing on the OG glorified carpet anymore.
What about referees influencing second half betting lines?
“Yep that’s grass! Oh my god that’s turf! Check complete”
Should ban anybody from playing at the MetLife until further notice