I was watching TV with my wife in the evening last summer when one of my sons called. “Hey dad, I saw you on Netflix!” He had been watching the Cowboys documentary, America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys, when a much younger me, standing behind Coach Jimmy Johnson in the Cowboys “War Room”, appeared on the screen.
This book is my memoir that hearkens back to the day when the NFL was merging X’s and O’s play diagrams with digital 1’s and 0’s. I was fortunate to be one of the pioneers of the computerization of the NFL. As you read my account, you’ll no doubt want to stop on a regular basis, laugh, shake your head, and say “that’s ridiculous”, “that’s nothing”, or “why not ask a chatbot.” I hope to provide some insight into how quickly technology changed during the 1980s and 1990s, the challenges, and how it enabled and enhanced the game and business of professional football.
Much has been made of the term analytics on NFL game broadcasts over the last few years, as if it is something brand new, beginning with the advent of big tech companies promoting real-time, in-game analytics. These are indeed impressive and make for great TV. They provide benefit to fantasy footballers everywhere.
Today’s football analytics are not as new or revolutionary as they may seem. We didn’t use the term analytics in the 80s and 90s, but employing metrics, data analysis, and evaluation to gain a competitive advantage is exactly what computer professionals, including me, were doing.
I worked closely with coaches, scouts, and trainers who were experts at the highest level of football. I listened and learned the mechanics, strategy, and art of the game from them, while I helped them see how technology could provide a competitive edge.