'It helps coaches having the real-time option to teach players on the go.' Every team has been using the device,' James Bernstrom, Microsoft's product marketing director, says. In total, each team has access to 25 Surface Pro 2s on any given Sunday (or Monday, or Thursday) the remaining 12 are up in the coaches' booth, and they don't sport the same ruggedized case that you see in players' hands. That said, it's one thing to see these in action during games from afar, on TV, so when the opportunity to spend time with the Seattle Seahawks arose, to learn their game day workflow with the Surface Pro 2, we couldn't say no.įor the NFL Sideline Viewing System, the process begins before the start of each game, when the carts that house the devices, 13 Surface Pro 2s behind each bench, are wheeled to the field, all set up and ready for home and away team members to pick up and start using immediately. Microsoft's laptop/hybrid device began appearing on NFL sidelines earlier this year, at the start of the preseason, and the company tells us that the adoption rate of the Sideline Viewing System by players and coaches has been 'great' up to now - though a spokesperson wasn't willing to discuss specific numbers. Sure, it doesn't hurt that the tech titan is said to have paid a huge sum of money to the NFL for the alleged five-year partnership, but it's safe to say that it's equally beneficial regardless. Still, this is a notable first step in the NFL bringing technology into the game, and Microsoft wants to play a big role in that development.

It's worth noting that at least for now, the functionality of the Sideline Viewing System is limited to players and coaches annotating, drawing and looking at images from plays. Now that we've talked about the design process behind the NFL's Surface Pro 2s, it's time to show you how these things are actually being used throughout the league.

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