NFL’s New Shoulder Pads Report Player Stats in Real Time

It’s football season, and statistics reign supreme. A new adaptation of RFID technology is being used by the NFL this season: “intelligent” shoulder pads that report performance stats of individual players, as demonstrated in this CNN video on athlete tracking: http://cnn.it/YfoYyf

RFID data points collect multiple types of performance data on each player: speed, fatigue, and impact levels – vital information for coaches who want optimal results. In addition, the RFID tags pinpoint the players’ exact location on the field; it could mean the difference between a punt and a first down. The data is fed in real time to the coaches and to the commentators in the booth, for in-depth analysis of individuals’ and teams’ performances. And if you’re a stats-hungry fan, this technology is just the ticket for re-assessing your Fantasy Football team.

Photo © Pete Saloutos – Fotolia.com