NFL Partners With Data Companies For Tech/Safety Competition

The NFL plans to invite four data analytics companies to present ways to improve player safety during punts as part of the league’s fourth annual 1st and Future technology competition, which occurs the day before the Super Bowl. “It is our first effort to crowdsource a play,” said NFL Exec VP/Health & Safety Jeff Miller. “We are broadening the problem-solving community.” Punts have twice the average of concussive plays as runs or passes, Miller said. Falcons President and NFL Competition Committee Chair Rich McKay also said the high rates of penalties on punts is an element the data firms will consider. 

The 1st and Future event will continue to have “Shark Tank”-like competition between finalists offering health and safety technologies. The winner gets $50,000 and Super Bowl tickets. The punt data analytics competition is a second session, and each of the four firms will get $20,000. This year’s event, which will be at Georgia Tech, is sponsored by Arrow Electronics.