Zebra Technologies, whose player-and-ball tracking system empowers the NFL’s analytic platform Next Gen Stats, has renewed its partnership with the league through at least the 2025 season.
By extending Zebra’s deal as the NFL’s Official Real time Locations Solutions Provider, all 32 teams — as well as the league’s broadcast partners — will continue to have access to RFID technology that on game days and practices quantifies a player’s mileage on the field, speed, workload and impacts from contact.
Inserted into shoulder pads, sewn into practice jerseys and embedded in footballs, Zebra’s radio frequency identification chips provide metrics that also help coaches with game preparation and inform trainers on injury prevention and player fatigue. The analytics additionally educate the league’s operations department on potential rule changes and preseason ramp up procedures after an annual offseason "data dump."
Specifically, Zebra’s MotionWorks tracking solution captures every data point of every player during every play on the field, such as acceleration, deceleration, aggregate distance traveled, orientation and proximity to the football and their teammates. The company uses its real-time location sensors in each NFL stadium to capture these key analytics from every play during the season, and eventually may be able to pinpoint where a punt went out of bounds or a first down measurement.
On the media side, Zebra’s findings power the Next Gen Stats that that enhance TV broadcasts and the viewing audience. Through the deal, Zebra will continue to monitor every regular season, post season and preseason game, as well as the NFL Combine and NFL International Combine.
