NFL Gearing Up to Use GPS Tracking on Player

29 Sep 2015

When it comes to advanced statistics, the NFL is ramping up its game by evaluating the use of GPS tracking for its players. These GPS tracking devices are about the size of a thin flip phone and are positioned in the middle of the back of an athlete, typically underneath a compression shirt.

Once the biometric sensor comes to life, each movement the athletes make, each muscle twitch, and every heartbeat are tracked and turned into numbers which arms teams with data about the athlete’s potential, performance, and health.

It’s thought to be the next logical step in information collection for the biggest and most profitable professional sport worldwide, where this type of data is both precious and lucrative. The statistician’s dream is professional football where numbers have a big impact on coaching decisions, fantasy leagues, bets and a deep connection between the game and fans.

The NFL can now collect information at an extraordinary level, thanks to the newly introduced GPS trackers. Teams are now leaning on data and technology for not only preventing and rehabilitating injuries, but also for preventing them, which is ultimately the end result goal of the trackers.

The front offices can use the collected data when evaluating potential trades and contracts as well as the athletic trainers and coaches can decide how hard they are going to push players in games and practices.

Testing on the GPS trackers began a year ago and to this date, there are 32 NFL teams that use some sort of GPS tracking.These trackers will be placed under each player’s shoulder pads and will provide live-tracking movement during the entire game.

The minute a player puts his shoulder pads on, the NFL can begin tracking them inside the tunnel and out on the game field. Once in play, the player is tracked and their speed, movement and route traveled is measured.

For now, the majority of the information gathered through the technology is being held so the NFL can determine if the technology is being used fairly and is properly integrated into the game. However, for now, the information collected through the trackers is being used by the statistic geeks for analysis, however, in the future, it might just end up as a regular part of training regimens and injury and strategy analysis.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.