In 2024, former NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell called out the league for its "hypocrisy" in agreeing to FIFA regulations for the 2026 World Cup and installing grass and then planning to revert back to artificial turf for football games, per ESPN's Paul Gutierrez .

The NFL unveiled strict new field standards, requiring all stadiums to meet lab-approved benchmarks in about three years amid efforts to prevent injuries.

The NFL hopes that by 2026, teams will be able to pick from a library of approved and accredited field surfaces to replace existing ones.

According to the Associated Press' Josh Dubow, the NFL is introducing new enhanced standards for its surfaces that teams will have to implement by the start of the 2028 season. Each team will reportedly be provided with “a library of approved and accredited NFL fields” before the start of next season.

Akers played in 16 NFL seasons, 12 of which came with the Philadelphia Eagles. During his time in the City of Brotherly Love, Akers posted a field goal percentage of 82.4 percent on 357 attempts and he led the NFL in field goals made in 2009.