The NFL is about to bring football fans more statistics than they could ever imagine.
The league is preparing to tag its players with radio frequency identification (RFID) chips that will track every movement they make during the course of a game.
“We capture high-speed player data and convert it into real-time, usable statistics,” said Zebra Technologies, which will partner with the NFL on the project, the technology website Ars Technica reported Thursday. “Imagine the playbook redefined with every snap,” the company added.
The new chips will be used in 17 stadiums during the course of the 2014-2015 season, the website reported. The teams include: Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, New England, New Orleans, Oakland, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Washington.
“Zebra’s tracking technology will help teams to evolve training, scouting, and evaluation through increased knowledge of player performance, as well as provide ways for our teams and partners to enhance the fan experience,” said Vishal Shah, NFL vice president of media strategy, Ars Technica reported.
Future RFID chips will also measure players’ heart rates, lung capacity and temperature. Statistics that will be measured in the upcoming season include acceleration rates, top speed and length of runs, the website reported. The ID tags will be fitted to the inside of a player’s shoulder pad.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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