As part of a new partnership with the NFL, Sony is developing a new set of headphones for NFL coaches that will debut during the 2025 season. Sony Electronics’ Matthew Parnell says new headphones were built “from the ground up” edge In a briefing, Sony engineers have begun working with NFL operations teams to develop the product.
Parnell said Sony’s new coaching headset will be a “completely new model” and the company must ensure it can withstand a variety of weather conditions and still work in loud stadiums. The headset will also use Verizon’s private 5G network so coaches can communicate with each other – the current headset uses Verizon’s CBRS wireless connection.
It’s unclear how much the new coaching headphones will borrow from products like Sony’s WH-1000XM5 and the company’s much-touted noise-canceling technology, as the new product doesn’t actually exist today and “until we develop it further.” Nor will it exist. But “it’s a full collaboration with NFL teams on what they want and what they need us to build,” he said.
“We are known and recognized for noise cancellation, sound quality, and all the features that make our consumer headphones so amazing,” said Sony’s Maya Wasserman. “It’s very exciting for us to bring this technology in and incorporate it into all the really specific needs the NFL has for this headset.”
We’ll have to wait and see if Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will appreciate the new setup or petition the league to switch back to Bose so he can hear his offensive coordinator and YG’s voices more clearly.
Sony will also become an official technology partner of the NFL, and as part of this, the NFL will expand its use of Sony’s Hawkeye tracking technology. The NFL will test using Hawkeye to help gauge the progress of its first-round offense starting in the preseason this season, according to the NFL’s Tracey Rodburg. Roederberg said the Hawkeye system will be installed in all stadiums. According to a press release, over the “coming seasons,” the Hawkeye team and the NFL will work together to develop “next-generation officiating technology” that can review games and make critical decisions.
