This NFL Tech is Hidden in Plain Sight
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Description
So, one of the most classic shots you're going to see is a headset on a coach's head like that with a mic in their face talking with their hand on their waist. What's happening is a coach is allowed to talk to either one offensive or one defensive player as they call plays. >> You got me on that, Matthew. All right, Matthew, let's do this. You got me on this, buddy. >> And their hand is on a little belt pack as they hold down a button and transmit to a speaker directly in that player's helmet. So, yeah, these helmets do have tech built into them. It's kind of hard to see and this is an older helmet design, but there are speakers actually inside of this helmet. So, this is the entire tech package that's got to fit inside of one of these helmets. Pretty simple in theory. Two speakers, one of them at each ear, so they can hear clearly. This is the receiver, and it's receiving an encrypted signal that only they can hear. And this is the battery, which should last about 6 and 1/2 hours, which is plenty for an entire NFL game. This is the slimmest and lightest they've ever made this whole tech package. Hopefully the player doesn't notice. Anytime you want to know which player is receiving the transmission from the coach, you'll have to look for this little green sticker on the back of their helmet. Usually, it's a quarterback on offense relaying the call and a lineman on defense. Now, if you really have eagle eyes, then around the 50 yardd line, you'll see a black tech cart which has this box on it. This is the coachto player interface box, and all this is doing is relaying that encrypted signal. So when the coach gives that play call, it turns green. According to the rules, the coaches are not allowed to talk to the players with less than 15 seconds left on the play clock. So there's someone in the press box with this cut off box with a button on it. So if the coaches are still talking to the players at 15 seconds, they can cut that signal and it turns yellow. So there you have it. There's always a lot of tech going on out there, but now you know exactly what's happening. So next time you watch an NFL broadcast, you'll spot that stuff.
This short explains the hidden NFL headset technology coaches use to communicate with players during games. The system is housed inside a compact helmet package, featuring two speakers, one for each ear, and a belt-pack transmitter that sends an encrypted signal directly to the player's helmet. A receiver and a slim battery power the setup, with the battery advertised to last roughly six and a half hours, making it capable for an entire game. The video points out visual cues such as a small green sticker on the back of the helmet to identify which player is receiving the coach's call, and an over-the- sideline coach-to-player interface box located around the 50-yard line that relays the encrypted signal to the on-field headset. The presenter notes game rules about signaling time limits and explains how the system changes color if coaches continue talking after the 15-second cutoff, turning from green to yellow to indicate a cut-off. By the end, viewers are encouraged to watch NFL broadcasts with a newfound awareness of the tech quietly enabling on-field communication, and to spot the gear and procedures in real games.
Topics · sports technology · behind the scenes · american football · broadcast technology · wireless communication
Questions answered
- How does NFL sideline communication work between coaches and players in this video?
- Coaches relay plays to players via a belt-pack transmitter that sends an encrypted signal to helmet-mounted receivers, with two speakers inside the helmet for clear audio.
- What visual cues indicate which player is receiving the transmission?
- A green sticker on the back of the helmet signals the recipient, typically a quarterback on offense or a linebacker or safety on defense.
- How long does the helmet communication hardware power last?
- The battery is designed to last about six and a half hours, sufficient for an entire NFL game.
- What is the function of the coach-to-player interface box mentioned in the video?
- The interface box relays the encrypted signal to the helmet receivers and is situated around the 50 yard line for coordinating the transmission.