The National Football League (NFL) and Microsoft Corporation have announced a multi-year extension of their long-standing strategic partnership, with artificial intelligence (AI) set to take centre stage in transforming the league’s operations, both on and off the field.
Microsoft’s Copilot and Azure AI platforms will be deployed across sidelines, scouting, stadium operations, and business functions. The move marks a shift from Microsoft’s decade-long role as the NFL’s sideline hardware provider to a deeper integration of AI-driven decision-making across the league.
The NFL has already rolled out more than 2,500 Surface Copilot+ PCs to all 32 clubs, empowering 1,800 players, 1,000 coaches, and football staff with real-time data and analytics. Coaches and players now have access to GitHub Copilot features that allow them to filter plays by down, distance, penalties, or scoring outcomes, helping teams identify coverages and formations faster. A new Microsoft 365 Copilot-powered dashboard in coaching booths is also enabling analysts to spot actionable insights, such as personnel groupings or snap counts, in real time.
Commenting on the occasion, Gary Brantley, CIO of the NFL, said, “We are entering a new era of innovation at the NFL through our collaboration with Microsoft to deploy AI across key areas of the business. Enhancing the league is a responsibility we take seriously, and Microsoft has been a trusted sideline technology partner for over a decade. With Microsoft’s AI technologies, including Copilot, there are tremendous opportunities to elevate the gameday experience for our clubs and deliver an even more compelling product to our fans.”
Bryson Gordon, Corporate Vice President, Global Marketing, Microsoft, added, “The NFL and Microsoft partnership is entering a new era, and we’re proud the league is once again putting its trust in Microsoft to bring AI to the NFL. Extending our work together is more than just a football story, it’s a blueprint for transformation. Whether you’re preparing for the championship or running a global enterprise, the principles are the same: insights matter, preparation is essential, and the ability to act quickly is critical.”
The partnership stretches beyond the field. With 30 stadiums hosting more than 330 events each year, Microsoft is building a Copilot-powered operations dashboard to track game-day incidents such as weather delays or technical issues. The goal: improve efficiency and long-term decision-making for stadium operators and league officials.
AI is also reshaping scouting. During the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, Microsoft’s Azure AI Foundry powered an app that delivered real-time insights on over 300 prospects, changing how coaches and scouts evaluate talent. Azure AI video tools are being piloted for practice evaluations, injury assessments, and even draft analysis outside the Combine.
Individual teams are also experimenting with AI in business functions. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are using Copilot to support marketing and fan engagement, while the NFL Players Association has adopted Microsoft AI for video review to improve staff efficiency and player safety.
Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams Head Coach, added, “Making sound decisions and putting players in the best spots on the field is a coach’s ultimate responsibility. Microsoft Copilot enhances our efficiency and accuracy by breaking down complex data into digestible insights that can be quickly communicated to our players and help them realize their highest potential.”
With billions of dollars in revenue and millions of fans worldwide, the NFL’s embrace of AI is more than a technology upgrade. From scouting to stadiums, Microsoft’s Copilot is positioning itself as an indispensable assistant, ensuring the game stays fast, competitive, and future-ready.
