The Technology Behind the NFL’s Incredibly Precise Stats

Jeffrey Heimgartner posted 2020-12-22
Track star. Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers running back, reached a record 23.09 mph on an 80-yard touchdown. The data was captured by RFID wearable technology. (Image courtesy of Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images.)

For National Football League (NFL) fans, watching their favorite players outmaneuver the opponent for a touchdown or throw the perfect pass is beyond worthy of cheers. Thanks to technology, fans, coaches and players can get real-time data demonstrating just how impressive those plays are.

In 2014, the NFL approved wearable radio-frequency identification (RFID) transmitters using a system developed by Zebra Technologies. Around the same time, more than a dozen NFL teams had signed on to use a wearable global positioning system (GPS) device and a local positioning systems (LPS) device from Catapult.

As technology has progressed, so have the stats and uses of the technology. On November 8, Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson made a record-breaking 55-yard pass that traveled 64.4 yards before being caught for a touchdown by wide receiver David Moore. Powering his way through linemen, Antoine Winfield, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety, needed only 2.05 seconds to make a sack. So, just how is that data collected?

RFID Tracking

At every NFL game, the organization’s RFID tracking system includes approximately 30 ultra-wideband receivers and two to three tags installed in players’ shoulder pads, officials’ tags, the ball, pylons, sticks and chains. That adds up to around 250 devices capturing every moment of 11-on-11 game data in real time from location to distance traveled to acceleration rates at a frequency of 10 times per second. Individual movement is charted to within inches. Behind the scenes, three operators diligently ensure that the tracking systems are all working as expected.

RFID tags in the shoulder pads of players and the ball track movements within inches during play. (Image courtesy of Zebra Technologies.)

To make this all happen, the NFL collaborated with each team’s mangers to ensure the best locations for the tags, which are about the size of a nickel. In an average regular NFL season, more than 1,700 players are outfitted with RFID tags in their uniforms. For the football itself, which is made to NFL specifications, the organization worked with Wilson, the official NFL game ball supplier, and quarterbacks to ensure that the integrity, shape and movement of the ball remained unchanged. The RFID tag in a football weighs less than 4 grams and accounts for only 1 percent of the ball’s weight.

At the instant when the game kickoff happens, the radio frequencies from all of the RFID tags are picked up by strategically placed receivers throughout the stadium, providing continuous tracking throughout every second of action. The result is data that includes position (including height), velocity, rotational information, as well as player speed, passing rates, rushing attempt yards, pass completion rates, receiver separations from defense players and much more. That data fuels the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, benefitting the teams, fans and broadcasters.

The NFL’s Next Gen Stats includes game center stats, such as a pass rusher’s average pressure distance from the quarterback at the time of the throw or sack. (Image courtesy of the NFL.)

For fans, the data adds an additional level of excitement to the game, especially if their team makes a new speed record. It has also taken the world of Fantasy Football to new heights thanks to such specific data that would not have been recorded previously. As for the teams, through the use of machine learning algorithms, the data provides a precise player participation report, performance metrics and other advanced metrics that create a true picture of each player’s performance. After each play, more than 200 new data points are created.

Broadcasters also enjoy the benefits of these real-time insights. During the broadcasting breaks, that instant data can be used to create entertaining infographics, highlight subtle yet impressive moves that may be easily overlooked, or compare a player’s performance to previous games.  

GPS and LPS

Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd dons his Catapult GPS technology, which is worn under shoulder pads and jerseys.

This year also has seen five more franchises using wearable devices from Catapult, bringing the total to 19. The company’s innovative technology is a blend of GPS and LPS aimed to optimize performance and better assess player risks. The device is installed in a vest that players wear under their jerseys and shoulder pads.

The wearable technology tracks more than 1,000 data points per second within one to four inches. It provides real-time metrics, such as distance and training load, to player information, such as heart rate and how fast they accelerate or decelerate. The technology’s ability to provide high-level positional, inertial and event metrics in real time has numerous benefits for coaches and players, both during and after the game.

Each device, which is 48 mm x 40 mm x 6 mm and weighs 53 g, can be programmed to monitor different elements, which is key for obtaining position-specific stats. This enables players and coaches to better understand the demands of each of the game’s unique positions, quantify a player’s workload, and keep better track of contact made.

Growing Use of Augmented and Virtual Reality

Other technologies adding to the game from nearly all perspectives are augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Although still evolving, both have been a boon for broadcasters and have enhanced the fan experience. This technology makes it easy to identify rules, highlight plays, and take a closer look at details often missed.

The use of AR includes chroma keyed effects and data-driven 3D graphics that can interact with players on the field, creating more information for viewers. (Image courtesy of CBS Sports.)

Along with enabling TV viewers to see the yellow first down line and much more, AR is slowly becoming part of the in-person experience. NFL and Verizon teamed up to develop apps that come to life for attendees of Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins. Through the NFL OnePass app, fans can use AR overlays for plays, stats and other game highlights. Missed a play or want to watch it again? The app allows for streaming different angles, rewinding plays, and viewing instant replays.

In October 2019, Nexus Studio used Scape Technologies’ visual positioning technology to turn AT&T Stadium, the first 5G-enabled stadium and home of the Dallas Cowboys, into an AR experience. Using Samsung devices, attendees were able to watch realistic 36-foot holograms of their favorite players come to life.

VR has become an essential tool on the field for referees. Thanks to the multiple cameras, including drones, 3D recreations of plays can be made, which allows officials to view them from multiple perspectives. While some fans may still disagree with a call, the ability to see the play from beginning to end repeatedly at least ensures a better chance for making the right call.

Although still slowly making their way behind the scenes, AR and VR in training are on the rise. Some of the current offerings allow for making virtual throws and getting an analysis of a pass, as well as a kick. The NFL has been using STRIVER, a technology for learning and game reviewing. With STRIVER, players are immersed in the game and put in the exact position they would be in on the field. It is designed to help players perform mental reps and ingrain strategies for quicker decision-making when the real game starts. As these technologies evolve, they could be game changers in understanding the more scientific side of the game.