TopSpin Technologies won the NFL’s fourth annual First & Future competition for making a helmet with a small bar at the top that the wearer spins by turning their neck. TopSpin CTO Theo Versteegh said it is designed to strengthen neck muscles and help prevent concussions, adding, “Admittedly it looks absurd.” The Eagles and Jets are already clients. For winning the "Shark Tank"-style event, TopSpin took home $50,000 and two Super Bowl tickets. The runner-up was Solius, which makes a body-length chamber allowing the user to replenish Vitamin D. The company earned $20,000 and two Super Bowl tickets. A panel of judges heard the pitches and voted on the winners.
The event also featured four data analysts, each of whom received $20,000, and who crunched punt numbers to offer ways to make the play safer. Two winners were selected, with each getting Super Bowl tickets. Analyst Halla Yang suggested an automatic five-yard gain for fair catches, plus helmet sensors. The second winner, Alex Wainger, suggested allowing all of the kicking team’s player to move forward after the hike, and not just after the kick, ideally resulting in more fair catches.
