The Steelers won’t just have a new coach when they take the field for the 2026 season, they’ll be playing on a new kind of grass surface.
Post-Gazette Steelers insider Gerry Dulac reports the heavily criticized grass at Acrisure Stadium will be brought up to date with the most current standards set by the NFL.
Steelers president Art Rooney II tells Dulac that Acrisure will be comprised of a blend of Bermuda and bluegrass, called Tahoma 31 Bermuda.
Tahoma’s website says the grass is the “world’s most cold-tolerant”.
The grass was developed at Oklahoma State University and is popular because of its durability and keeps its color longer.
With both Pitt football and the Steelers playing on the grass at Acrisure Stadium, it takes a beating and is replaced several times during the football season.
But, even with the frequent replacements, the surface has been criticized for years, especially this past season when Steelers kicker Chris Boswell fell trying to a kick a field goal during a game in October against Cleveland.
“I thought it was poor yesterday,” said then-Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin after the game in October at his weekly news conference.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi also complained about the player surface, but added they need to play of grass.