SANTA CLARA, Calif. — With Super Bowl LX less than two weeks away here, pitting the Seattle Seahawks vs. the New England Patriots, the National Football League is offering a behind-the-scenes look at how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping player safety protocols across the league.
The National Football League has transformed its approach to player safety through comprehensive data analysis via AI, leading to measurable reductions in injuries across the league. The league collects extensive information during both games and practices using GPS sensors worn by all players. These devices track velocity, posture, exertion levels, and time on field. High-resolution video analysis has become equally sophisticated — the Super Bowl alone employs 70 cameras capable of breaking down injuries frame by frame.
“The NFL has an incredible number of data points for games and practice, giving us tools to assess the performance and safety requirements of our players,” Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president of player health and safety, said in an interview. “There has been demonstrable data aggregation that has yielded significant results.”
The league has documented fewer concussions, shoulder injuries, and lower extremity injuries in recent seasons. These improvements stem from multiple interventions informed by the analytics, including rule modifications governing kickoffs and restricting certain blocking and tackling techniques. Enhanced field surfaces have also contributed to the decline in injuries.
The NFL has reported a 17% decrease in concussions since 2023, marking a significant improvement in player safety across the league. This decline comes as helmet technology continues to advance, with new equipment designs showing measurable improvements in protecting players from head injuries during games.
Among the latest innovations, LIGHT Helmets’ Apache Pro has emerged as a standout performer in independent safety testing. The helmet earned top rankings in the NFL Players Association and NFL’s April laboratory performance tests as the best new quarterback position-specific helmet tested in 2025, placing second overall in its category. Additionally, Virginia Tech’s helmet safety ratings—widely considered the industry standard for protective equipment assessment—ranked the Apache Pro as the number one safety-rated helmet, underscoring its superior protection capabilities compared to other models on the market.
In the high-stakes world of professional football, where athletes are becoming increasingly faster and more powerful, the traditional armor of the gridiron is undergoing a radical weight-loss program. Nick Esayian, CEO of LIGHT Helmets, is spearheading a movement to replace the industry-standard six-pound helmet with a significantly lighter alternative. Weighing in at just 2.5 to 3 pounds—roughly a third of the weight of the average human head—the technology is predicated on a simple but vital physics-based premise: reducing mass can decrease the kinetic energy and violent force generated during tackles and falls.
The innovation lies beneath the surface, where LIGHT utilizes a malleable shell paired with 3D-printed lattice technology designed to absorb and redistribute impact more effectively than traditional padding. This shift comes at a critical juncture for the sport, as the NFL faces a reported concussion rate of 7% to 10% and considers an expansion to an 18-game schedule. Esayian notes that as the league eyes international growth and longer seasons, the resulting player fatigue becomes a primary catalyst for injury, necessitating gear that protects without adding to the physical burden.
The lightweight movement is already gaining significant traction among the sport’s elite. Currently, between 35 and 45 NFL players — including stars like Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan — have adopted the headgear, alongside 250 players across FBS schools. With endorsements and feedback from veteran voices like former stars Tony Romo and Michael Strahan, LIGHT Helmets is positioning itself as a necessary evolution in a game where the playing surface is harder and the hits are more immediate than ever before.
Central to efforts for the NFL is the NFL Digital Athlete, an AI-powered analytical tool developed through the league’s partnership with Amazon Web Services. The collaboration, which began in 2017, initially focused on creating NFL Next Gen Stats before expanding into player health and safety applications.
The Digital Athlete system aggregates video footage and data from practices, training sessions, and games across all 32 NFL teams, creating comprehensive profiles of individual player experiences. Coaches and medical staff use the platform to assess injury risks, customize training regimens, and design personalized recovery protocols for each athlete.
The technology’s influence extends beyond individual player management to shaping the sport itself. Insights derived from the Digital Athlete have informed recent rule changes aimed at reducing injuries, including the introduction of the Dynamic Kickoff format and the prohibition of hip drop tackles.
Miller’s interview offers an opportunity to explore how these AI innovations are quietly transforming professional football’s approach to player welfare.
“The NFL’s use of real-time player tracking, sensor data, and computer vision has really evolved,” IEEE Senior Member Shrinath Thube said in an email. “What stands out is how AI is being used to surface deeper insights, from player movement patterns to performance trends. We’re also starting to see early use of AI in scouting, where models trained on game film and biomechanics can flag talent that might otherwise go unnoticed.”
Training protocols have evolved alongside competition rules. Teams now use the data to manage player workload more strategically, balancing training intensity with adequate recovery time. Contact practices have been modified based on injury risk patterns identified through sensors and video analysis.
Last year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans showcased innovations in broadcasting, AI, and fan experience that attracted a record 126 million average viewers across all platforms.
FOX Sports deployed an extraordinary 147 cameras for the broadcast, setting a new standard for sports coverage. The network debuted Sony’s HDC-P50A 4K high-frame-rate box camera, a shoebox-sized innovation mounted on Skycam systems that captures footage at 120 frames per second. The production also utilized 23 high-resolution 4K/8K cameras and 27 super slow-motion cameras, complemented by drone aerial shots and augmented reality overlays that provided real-time statistics visualization for viewers at home.
Behind the scenes, artificial intelligence played an increasingly prominent role. Sony’s Hawk-Eye optical tracking technology ran throughout the game, using AI and six ultra-HD cameras paired with computer-vision software to track football movement and measure ball placement. While not yet used for official calls, the system represents the NFL’s exploration of replacing traditional chain measurements with more precise digital alternatives.
The fan experience received significant technological upgrades as well. The Caesars Superdome’s enhanced 5G and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity allowed attendees to access multi-angle instant replays directly on their smartphones. RFID-powered self-checkout solutions at concession stands dramatically reduced wait times, enabling fans to spend more time enjoying the game rather than standing in lines.
Security technology also reached new heights following the January 2025 New Orleans truck attack. The comprehensive security plan included federal air marshals, rooftop snipers, and sophisticated anti-drone technology, representing the most advanced protective measures implemented at a Super Bowl in years.
The NFL’s Digital Athlete system and Next Gen Stats continued their evolution, employing AI and machine learning for real-time player tracking, performance analysis, and safety monitoring throughout the championship game.
As the NFL continues pushing technological boundaries, Super Bowl LIX demonstrated how innovation can enhance every aspect of the viewing experience—from broadcast quality to fan engagement to player safety—setting a new benchmark for future championship games.
“The next wave of AI in sports isn’t just about helping coaches. It’s about making the game more interactive for fans,” IEEE’s Thube said. “Agentic AI could explain plays in plain language, simulate what-if moments, or act as a personal game companion tuned to your favorite team or player.”
