Back then, pro scouts used stopwatches and notepads to track top draft prospects at the NFL Combine.
Nowadays, they are turning to chatbots and cloud computing.
Microsoft earlier this year launched a new AI assistant in its NFL Combine app used by coaches and scouts — part of the company’s latest effort to bring technology to the NFL.
The AI assistant, powered by Microsoft’s Copilot technology, allows scouts to ask questions and get answers instantly about player stats at the NFL Combine, the week-long event that allows teams to evaluate college football players ahead of the NFL draft.
Scouts can enter questions like “Show me the top five players for the 40-yard dash who are under six feet tall” and then follow up by asking how those numbers compare to historical data.
The idea is to help teams get immediate insights by simply asking questions, rather than waiting for analysts to clear out spreadsheets.
“There are a lot of these coaches and scouts who are excited,” said Bryson Gordon, corporate vice president of global media and partnerships at Microsoft.
Seattle Seahawks coach Mike MacDonald said having quicker access to data speeds up the player evaluation process. “Earlier information is better,” he told Geekwire.
The new Combine app feature is the latest example of Microsoft’s long-standing partnership with the NFL that began in 2013 and has led to Surface tablets on the sidelines during games, replacing printed black-and-white paper coaches used to review previous plays.
There are currently over 2,000 Surface devices and nearly 200 Windows servers deployed at NFL stadiums.
Microsoft also works with individual teams to scale internal operations. Teams are using Copilot to build marketing plans and create social media campaigns , for example.
Microsoft announced a partnership extension with the NFL in 2020, but did not disclose terms or deal duration. The tech giant also works with other sports leagues, including the NBA and LaLiga .
The NFL, meanwhile, has key partnerships with fellow Seattle-area tech giant Amazon across its live game streaming and cloud-powered “ next-generation stats .”
Previously: Surface Saver: How Microsoft’s NFL deal turned into a marketing boon for its tablet
