NFL and Microsoft: AI revolutionizes American football, optimizing game and players

The National Football League (NFL) has announced a significant strategic alliance with Microsoft Corp. with the aim of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) solutions into various facets of professional American football. This initiative seeks to significantly improve recruitment processes, optimize play selection, and enhance the performance of players from the 32 teams that make up the league.

Technological Innovation in the NFL

Gary Brantley, the NFL’s Chief Information Officer, expressed his enthusiasm for this new phase, highlighting the vast opportunities that AI offers to enhance the game day experience and offer a more engaging product for fans.

We are entering a new era of innovation in the NFL thanks to our collaboration with Microsoft to implement AI in key areas. With these technologies, there are enormous opportunities to improve the game day experience for our teams and offer a more attractive product to our fans.

Gary Brantley, NFL Chief Information Officer

The implementation of AI platforms and the cloud will allow coaches to access and analyze data in real time. This will facilitate more precise and personalized tactical decision-making. Sean McVay, coach of the Los Angeles Rams, highlighted how this tool “will improve efficiency and precision by breaking down complex information into understandable data that can be quickly communicated to players so they can reach their full potential”.

Impact on the Game

The “NFL Band Visualization System” has been updated with more than 2,500 computers, which will allow for a comprehensive tracking of the nearly 1,800 active players. This system will allow filtering plays under different criteria, such as distance to advance, scores or penalties, to analyze formations, decipher defensive coverages and make faster strategic decisions. In addition, the AI will record and track incidents during matches, such as weather delays or technical issues, helping the league improve decision-making in future matchdays.

Security and Collaboration

The NFL Players Association will also have access to these solutions, mainly in the video review process, seeking to improve efficiency and enhance safety on the field. Bryson Gordon, Microsoft’s Vice President of Global Marketing, highlighted the importance of this collaboration, describing it as “a plan for transformation”. With this agreement, the NFL positions itself at the forefront in the use of digital tools, reinforcing its commitment to technology applied to high-performance sports.