NFL and Sony Partner on Future of Football

The National Football League and Sony recently announced a partnership that names Sony as an official technology partner of the NFL; specifically as a headphone partner in the near term.

The two will work collaboratively with coaches, players, teams, and leadership across the organization to expand Sony’s sports technology through Hawk-Eye Innovations to support officiating and the development of on-field and sideline technologies. This includes a new coach’s sideline headset that will debut in the 2025 season.

The new headset supports coach-to-coach communication on the field, and it will be powered by Verizon Business’ Managed Private Wireless Solution running on Verizon’s 5G network. Sony’s Hawk-Eye tracking services will enhance the accuracy of game-critical items like line-to-gain measurement.

The new partnership is the latest example of Sony and the NFL working together. From sideline photography to broadcast cameras and production to technology that supports officiating and enhancements for in-stadium fan experiences, Sony and the NFL have developed and implemented several solutions.

According to Neal Manowitz, president and COO of Sony Electronics North America, “From best-in-class professional photography and the broadcast capture of the game to some of the world’s most advanced line-to-gain optical tracking, to upgraded in-stadium experiences and more, we remain focused on this commitment. This partnership stems from years of integration into the NFL across these many different areas, and we are excited to officially join forces and pursue our passions together with one of the largest sports organizations in the world.”

Sony cameras and technologies have also been used by NFL broadcast partners and are used extensively in many NFL stadiums across the country. The new partnership will create new opportunities through technology.