There’s getting around the fact that the NFL is huge. Everything about it seems to be larger than life from the huge salaries that are on offer to the massive personalities of the players themselves.

Then there’s the fanbase. It’s estimated that this numbers a staggering 410 million people worldwide including around 140 million Americans between the ages of 13 and 64.

Large as it may be, this is one juggernaut that needs to keep on moving forward to maintain its momentum, particularly now there are many more possible entertainment opportunities available than ever before, not to mention new channels to engage with them.

The increased interest that has been generated since the 2018 ruling on sports betting has helped. But despite how keen many people are now to find out the latest NFL odds, there’s a great desire to improve the game in any way possible.

While there is a structure in place within the NFL to implement advances, some outside help will always be useful.

This is exactly why the NFL Forward program has been put in place. This is an initiative to invite fans and relevant businesses from around the world to submit their own ideas and proposals that could shape the future of the sport.

These are then assessed for practicality and usefulness by the league’s The Future of Football team, with the ultimate aim to implement the best ideas.

The requested suggestions fall into five main categories:

Venues and facilities

The game day experience is obviously very important for fans lucky enough to get a ticket to see their favourite team play. So anything that can be done to improve this would be very welcome.

So it could be ideas concerning reducing queues for food concessions or even making it easier to leave the parking lot quickly after the game. There’s also the question of how technology could be harnessed to make watching the game more enjoyable, for example by offering up-to-the-second stats and other data to fans about how their team is performing.

Team Communications

Football’s a fast-moving game which moves through many different phases as we progress through the four quarters. This means that communications between coaches, technical staff and players are key as strategies change and develop in response to what’s happening out on the field.

Therefore, there’s a real need for advances in the ways that the different groups can convey these changes in the heat of battle. While fans may not be able to offer solutions, tech firms most certainly will be able to. The result will be teams that can perform to an even higher level than ever before.

Equipment

Unlike a sport like basketball where there is a relatively low requirement for equipment, the same can’t be said for football. To cope with the rigours of the game players need to be fully protected with everything from shoulder-pads and other body armour including helmets capable of withstanding considerable impacts.

New materials are always being invented and there is also a huge increase in the amount and kinds of wearable technology available. Naturally, the NFL wants to be at the very forefront of implementing these advances for the good of the game, its fans and its players.

AI

Artificial intelligence has been the technological hot topic of recent times with applications being proposed in every possible area of life. The NFL is understandably keen to receive suggestions about the beneficial effects it could have on the sport. It may be through analysing and predicting the performance levels of the players to predicting demand for tickets for the biggest games of the season.

Player health and safety

Player health and safety has never been of greater concern. Not only is there the ongoing controversy about concussion and its long-term effects, there are also issues about players missing large parts of the season through injury. So anything that can be done to address these issues is certain to be welcomed both on a league and a team level.

Looking ahead

Although these are early days in the NFL Forward Program there’s a very good chance that it will have a very positive effect on the sport.

This promises to be far reaching, increasing opportunities for rookie players to make it, creating a better game day experience for fans and even enhancing the performance of the teams themselves. It could also have some further-reaching consequences such as attracting new sponsors to the sport.

And let’s not forget the opportunities that it’s going to provide for fans to have their voices heard as well as for businesses to enter into potentially very successful and lucrative partnerships with the NFL.

So, all in all, it does seem like the NFL Forward Program could be looking at a very bright future indeed.