Gleason: 49ers to spend Halloween Weekend on ‘Turf of Terror’

The scariest thing about Halloween weekend for the San Francisco 49ers may be the playing surface at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

BY KEVIN GLEASON

Oct 29, 2025, 11:58 AM Updated: 11:58 am

Follow on Google News

Watch: 49ers talk and how Deebo will do back in SF | Hard Rock Sports Round Table | 30 mins

The scariest thing about the Halloween weekend for the injury-ravaged 49ers is not who they play, but where they play: MetLife Stadium.

This Sunday’s opponent, the New York Giants, are themselves reeling from Cam Skattebo’s season-ending injury in their Week 8 loss to the Eagles.

While New York’s 2-6 record suggests the 49ers have plenty of reasons to be confident, the game will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, which will trigger some frightening flashbacks for Kyle Shanahan and the Faithful.

“They did redo the field at MetLife in March of 2023..

It does feel like we get more injuries at that stadium..

It shouldn’t be that hard to put in grass everywhere” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/XR6zYgXkdx

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 29, 2025

More on MetLife Stadium

The 49ers’ 2020 season was derailed during a Week 2 game at MetLife in which the team suffered multiple serious injuries. The Niners won the game, 31-13, but lost Nick Bosa for the year with a torn ACL. Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas also tore an ACL in the game. Raheem Mostert suffered a sprained MCL, and Jimmy Garoppolo sustained a high ankle sprain.

After the game, Kyle Shanahan pointed the finger of blame at the MetLife playing surface:

“I know our players talked about it the entire game, just how sticky the turf was, and I think that was the first time people played on it, I think” Shanahan said. “But yeah, it was something our guys were concerned about right away. And the results definitely made that a lot stronger.

“Unfortunately this is a place we’ve got to go back to next week.”

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on MetLife Stadium’s playing surface – 2020

The 49ers bounced back to beat the Giants in Week 3 without sustaining any more serious injuries, but the damage was done. And while the league investigated and declared the MetLife turf safe, injuries have continued to mount in the years since:

Notable ACL and Achilles tears suffered on MetLife Stadium’s turf since 2020:

Nick Bosa (2020)
Solomon Thomas (2020)
Jabrill Peppers (2021)
Wan’Dale Robinson (2022)
Sterling Shepard (2022)
Kyle Fuller (2022)
Aaron Rodgers (2023)
Malik Nabers (2025)

Is the playing surface to blame, or have the injuries merely been the result of the game’s violent and random nature? MetLife Stadium will be required to install natural grass for the 2026 World Cup; no one’s saying yet whether it will remain after the tournament ends.

As for this week? Assuming they can navigate the contest in relatively good health, Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers will be happy to put the ‘Turf of Terror’ in the rear-view mirror.