The Pittsburgh Steelers won their Week 6 contest against the Cleveland Browns, 23-9. Many Steelers fans continue to argue that kicker Chris Boswell is the best kicker in the league, and his consistency over the years supports that belief. However, during the win over Cleveland, it was not Boswell’s lone miss that drew attention, but how the miss happened.
AP Photo / Gene J. Puskar
Steelers' kicker Chris Boswell gets his foot caught by the field at Acrisure Stadium during a 23-9 win over the Browns in the 2025 NFL season.
On the play, Boswell appeared to slip on the field just as he made contact with the ball, sending it awkwardly off target. Upon replay, fans quickly noticed that the Acrisure Stadium grass gave out beneath him, raising frustration about the field conditions that effectively stole three points from the Steelers.
Ben Roethlisberger did not let that moment go unnoticed. On his latest Footbahlin podcast episode, the former Steelers quarterback discussed the incident in detail, voicing what many in Pittsburgh have been thinking for years about the team’s field conditions being an ongoing issue. While Roethlisberger did not directly call out anyone by name, his comments carried a clear message. When you talk about the grass at Acrisure Stadium, you are talking about a field overseen by the organization’s leadership, and that means Team President Art Rooney II.
"Our practice fields are about the same way," Roethlisberger said on his podcast Tuesday night. "They tear up and it’s terrible. You can’t have a professional football team, not just the Steelers, but the opponents play on a surface like that. You are paying them a lot of money and if people get hurt, it’s not a good thing."
Roethlisberger’s remarks hit home for Steelers fans who have long complained that the team’s home field has cost them crucial plays and even games over the years.
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger looks on while making a funny face during a practice.
Roethlisberger has a simple idea. He believes it's beyond time for Pitt to have their own stadium personally built.
"The only thing I can think of, and I have been saying this for a while, I don’t think Pitt should play there anymore," Roethlisberger said. "I understand there are high school games and the playoffs are played there… my thing is and I am saying this for multiple reasons. I am saying this for Pitt’s sake as well. I firmly believe that Pitt should put a 35,000-seat stadium up at Oakland. Pack that thing."
Despite regular maintenance and modern upgrades, the playing surface in Pittsburgh remains one of the most criticized in the NFL. Boswell’s slip served as another reminder that it is more than just a cosmetic issue; it is a competitive one. When the best quarterback to ever play for the organization in Roethlisberger, brings it up publicly, it is not just casual conversation but a subtle nudge toward accountability from within the Steelers family.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Wants Pitt To Build A New Stadium
The idea is that if the college team is using the field a day before most home games, it is going to get beaten up more than other fields across the league. The fact that it is Kentucky bluegrass has also contributed to the issue. This can increase the risk of injuries, which is Roethlisberger’s biggest concern.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin looks on while wearing sunglasses and a smile during a 2025 training camp practice out in Latrobe, PA.
He also believes that giving the Panthers their own stadium would benefit the team. He argues that it will be easier to pack a 35,000-seat stadium and bring energy to the games. Roethlisberger sees it as a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Do you agree with Ben Roethlisberger that Pitt should not be playing at Acrisure Stadium anymore? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.
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