Ways High Tech Is Changing the NFL

In the early years of football, the forward pass was considered the height of innovation. But pro football has come a long way since those humble beginnings. Indeed, with the NFL Network devoted to the game 24/7/365—and a host of streaming, mobile apps and on-demand options—football very much represents the digital age. This extends both to action on the field and the way franchises have evolved with respect to team-building and game-planning. Players, coaches, referees and team executives depend heavily on IT advances to get finely detailed analytics about opponents. The medical industry does the same in order to make the game safer for participants. And, of course, the league is always interested in tapping technology to provide a better fan experience. With this in mind, here are eight current and pending innovations that are helping to change professional football.