THE NFL is anger-proofing one of its most destroyed pieces of equipment.
Helmets and pads are meant to take a beating, but every week a NFL coach smashes their equipment into the ground in anger.
The NFL is introducing new headsets to withstand angry head coaches[/caption]
Sony’s new headsets also have improved noise cancellation and weather proofing[/caption]
Coaching headsets have long been a subject of sideline temper tantrums, but now they may be indestructable.
Sony, the provider of the NFL’s coaching headsets, has unveiled a new model with multiple enhanced features.
The new headsets have improved noise canceling filters and better protection against extreme weather.
Most notably, the headsets have been over-engineered to withstand the abuse they take on the sideline.
Sony and the NFL say the headsets “underwent extensive drop testing against the physical demands of the sidelines.”
The NFL first shared its plans for a new Sony headset in January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Headsets were delivered to teams last month in preparation for training camps and will debut at the Hall of Fame Game on July 31.
The 2025 season will mark the first time the league’s headsets have been sponsored since a previous deal with Bose ended in 2022.
Each headset will be individualized for each head coach in the league.
“We spent a lot of time with Sony and, critically, taking in a lot of input from coaches on what exactly they need,” NFL SVP of global partnerships Tracie Rodburg told Front Office Sports.
“These headsets were really put through the paces.”
Headsets aren’t the only technology that Sony is bringing to football in its partnership with the NFL.
The company is also introducing Sony’s Hawk-Eye Virtual Measurement Technology to accurately spot balls for first downs.
“The NFL and Sony are integrating world-class on-field officiating with state-of-the-art technology to advance football excellence,” Troy Vincent, executive vice president of football operations at the NFL, said.
“Combining the art of officiating with Sony’s trusted Hawk-Eye system is a healthy recipe for success in our commitment to raising the standards of accuracy, consistency and efficiency.
NFL important dates 2025 season
March 12 – Free Agency begins
April 24-26 – NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin
September 4 – 2025 season opener (TBC vs Eagles)
November 27 – Thanksgiving Day triple header
January 4, 2026 – End of regular-season
February 8, 2026 – Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California
“Replay technology and data-driven insights from Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations aid us in advancing our efforts toward the future of football.”
Hawk-Eye is already used in multiple top sports leagues to accurately deliver results without officials needing to guess.
It is especially prevalent in tennis, where Hawk-Eye is used to accurately determine whether or not a ball was in or out of play.
Hawk-Eye is also used during video assistant referee checks in soccer to determine offsides and goal rulings.
Its introduction into the NFL should bring a higher level of accuracy to officiating starting this season.
