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For over 100 years, the National Football League (NFL) has brought world-class professional football to fans in America and beyond. While the players themselves rightfully garner viewers' attention with their incredible athletic feats and smart instincts on the gridiron, keen students of the game never fail to notice the impact of NFL coaches who carefully coordinate strategy from the sidelines. Using headsets and microphones, they issue play calls, analyze the opposing team's movements and decide which players to bring on or off the field. These coaches play a critical role in shaping the outcome of each game—and they require nothing less than world-class communication on the field to get it done.
30 NFL stadiums implement new coach-to-coach on-field communications networking
with Verizon
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Communication on the field is key on game day
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When an NFL game is in progress, coaches rely on clear communication to properly coordinate and execute a series of intricate plays. "Football is a tremendously complex game. These coaches are out there, there's passion, there's noise and there's constant activity on the sideline," said Aaron Amendolia, deputy CIO at the NFL. When NFL coaches issue these play calls, they are typically elaborate, spoken in rapid fire and full of coded language meant to throw off anyone from the opposing team who might overhear.
With the intense decibel level of 70,000 fans screaming and players running in various directions at full tilt, it would be easy for a coach to miss a crucial detail with seconds to go in an important game. NFL coaches must carefully manage their words against the running clock since there's no such thing as a do-over when someone's instructions don't come through correctly the first time around. "In this league, every game has to be your best game," added Amendolia.
Effective communication on the field is no simple matter, however. Each NFL stadium has its own unique physical dimensions, underlying technology infrastructure and wireless network environment—and the demands on that wireless network are on another level altogether during a game. The NFL knew it could only partner with a world-class provider of wireless network communications. Verizon is already known for its 5G Ultra Wideband, which delivers an exceptional fan experience in 27 NFL stadiums. Accordingly, the NFL invited Verizon to integrate its networking solution to power coach-to-coach communication, and conduct a comprehensive live test of the solution during their 2022 International Games.
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Responding and fixing within seconds is great, but it's not your best. Your best is being proactive and making adjustments before the game, as well as throughout the game, when you're responding to that live environment that you can't predict.”Aaron Amendolia, Deputy CIO, NFL
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Selecting a world-class coach-to-coach communication system
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In response to the NFL's call, Verizon proposed a Managed Private Wireless Solution that would provide the speed, security and reliability for the NFL's critical on-field coach-to-coach communication. During five international games—spanning the United Kingdom, Germany and Mexico—Verizon performed comprehensive stress tests on this portable wireless communication system to confirm that this solution would meet the NFL's exacting specifications. For these trials, Verizon engineered the delivery of this solution to improve on-field communications. Verizon deployed, managed, tested and coordinated their private wireless technology, providing both in-game and ongoing operational support.
The NFL was also impressed with Verizon's collaboration. "We did not make it easy on Verizon. In fact, we put them in our hardest scenario that previous solutions had never even had to work through," said Amendolia. "We also had unique changes in this wireless space that introduced problems with noise and buzz and difficulties with operating systems within limited amounts of spectrum in one country versus another and different channels. To see how they came in and worked through all those things gave us confidence that we're heading in the right direction with this, and we have the right team working with us."
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Deploying effective on-field communication in 30 NFL stadiums
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Following the trial, Verizon announced a five-year partnership deal with the NFL to deliver a Managed Private Wireless Solution to each of the 30 NFL stadiums in the United States for the 2023 season. "I can't be more excited for what the team has been working on," said Brian Mecum, Vice President of Device Technology and Sports Innovation at Verizon. "We're going to deliver coach-to-coach communications in all 30 stadiums for 32 teams. All NFL teams will have crisp, reliable and great communications between all of their coaches."
Stellar performance will be a baseline requirement during these games. "You need a really strong engineering team to walk alongside you. You do need a brand like Verizon. Responding and fixing within seconds is great, but it's not your best. Your best is being proactive and making adjustments before the game, as well as throughout the game, when you're responding to that live environment that you can't predict, " said Amendolia.
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A strong partnership for world-class wireless communication
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When the NFL needed to deploy a pitch-perfect coach-to-coach communication system, it knew that a strong partnership with ongoing end-to-end support would be essential. After rigorously testing the capabilities of Verizon's Managed Private Wireless Solution during the 2022 International Games, the League knew it had found the right partner to ensure a successful outcome. Beginning with the 2023 season, the Verizon network will be right there on the field, delivering world-class coach-to-coach communication in all of the NFL's 30 stadiums.
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We're going to deliver coach-to-coach communications in all 30 stadiums for 32 teams. All NFL teams will have crisp, reliable and great communications between all of their coaches.”
Aaron Amendolia, Deputy CIO, NFL