In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, the NFL couldn’t stop talking about how great the field was going to be at State Farm Stadium on Sunday. The unique slide-in tray at the stadium allowed the NFL to prepare that playing surface for an entire year, and it was expecting rave reviews.
Well, all that prep and a million dollars later, the field was an absolute travesty.
While the playing surface did look pristine on Sunday night, the field itself was not conducive to a football game. Players were slipping all over the place. Defensive linemen could not establish a footing for a pass rush. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott nearly rolled his ankle on a kickoff because of that field.
I mean, just look at how the Eagles’ pass rush was impacted. It was obvious. The Eagles’ Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat looked like they were trying to pull off a pass rush on ice.
Not the reason they lost but watch Sweat and Reddick. Field was unplayable. pic.twitter.com/1jnrCaBLZP
— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) February 13, 2023
And after the game, the players didn’t hold back.
Look at Haason Reddick & the #Eagles slip all over the field
Eagles had 0 sacks
“it was the worst field that I've ever played on… y'all saw it, there was a lot of slipping all over that field. I changed my cleats, still had studs & was still slipping”pic.twitter.com/jDGi5GR46X
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) February 13, 2023
Reddick — who used to play for the Arizona Cardinals — called it the “worst field” he had ever played on. Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata said that the field was “slippery” and “sub-par.”
While it would have been easy for the Eagles to blame the field for the loss, both teams had to play on it. And the Chiefs didn’t love the field either. Frank Clark said that it was “terrible.”
Frank Clark says he thought the field conditions were trash. #Chiefskingdom pic.twitter.com/R34dDjkTeB
— 610SportsKC (@610SportsKC) February 13, 2023
Now, the Chiefs (and Eagles) did play in Arizona during the regular season, and the Chiefs particularly took issue with the field.
The State Farm Stadium field — once considered among the league’s best — has been a disaster since the team moved training camp to the stadium in 2013. But this was a completely different surface than what the Cardinals typically use, and that was supposed to make a positive impact. Instead, players were subjected to a field that wasn’t suited for a high-level football game.
Come Monday, fans were still upset that the NFL held a Super Bowl on a field that wasn’t up to par.
This was how Twitter reacted
Both teams eluded to it. Butker and Elliott deserve medals for kicking on it. Breaking in a new surface with the amount of spray on the logos on that turf was a huge failure by the league. #FlyEaglesFly https://t.co/QKkaQgdwnP
— Justin Nolan (@chi2phi) February 13, 2023
They spent 800K on the field just for the players to say it was trash lmao 😂 https://t.co/G1lveWw5C3
— Los’ (@Ufeelme510) February 13, 2023
NFL is the most incompetent league. https://t.co/6RxHuOadgP
— Jack Page ☘️ (@JackCityy) February 13, 2023
Field condition was definitely a factor for both pass rushes. Watch both ends slip on this play. https://t.co/bBAYFZcPe4 pic.twitter.com/PZ8wmOWORN
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) February 13, 2023
Multi billion dollar organization, on the biggest stage. Bummer for all involved… https://t.co/MvbK98Jyhm
— Zac Clark (@zacwclark) February 13, 2023
Even the chiefs knew the field was terrible https://t.co/iqJAv10EjV
— ericsimmons (@ericsimmons_) February 13, 2023
He speaks the truth 🗣️ https://t.co/odTiVBQ01z
— Lisa Carter (@LisaCRadio) February 13, 2023
Lol this video crazy https://t.co/ATgV5hBHj4
— Chris (@chrisc402) February 13, 2023
This field was in awful condition for both teams – the NFL should be embarrassed that the game was played in those conditions. https://t.co/UI73ISvqRW
— Mike Gill (@MikeGillShow) February 13, 2023
