Rams Coach Reaps the Rewards From NFL’s New Technology
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is one of the biggest advocates of the use of innovative technology in the National Football League (NFL).
His willingness to embrace tech appeared to pay dividends on Sunday, as the Rams defeated Houston Texans 14-9 at the SoFi Stadium.
The NFL 2025 season predictions by Spreadex Sports suggest the result was unexpected given that none of the Rams players were rated as contenders for individual awards this term.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford may have felt particularly affronted by his omission from the debate about which player will win the MVP award this season.
Stafford became only the tenth quarterback in NFL history to reach 60,000 career passing yards after throwing for 245 yards against the Texans.
His composure under pressure was highlighted by a crucial completion to wide receiver Puka Nacua for a 24-yard gain on third and eight in the final two minutes.
Stafford’s trust in Nacua was demonstrated by the fact that 130 of his passing yards went to him, and McVay has undoubtedly played a key role in their relationship.
Utilisation of technology has been a core element of McVay’s coaching style in the NFL, and he will not be changing his methods this season.
McVay has been effusive in his support of a new multi-year strategic partnership between Microsoft and the NFL which will usher in a new year of artificial intelligence (AI) innovation.
Microsoft Copilot and Azure AI will enhance the way coaches connect insights from the sidelines to their players when they are on the field.
The Sideline Viewing System (SVS) powered by Copilot provides real-time data which helps coaches make informed decisions in a more efficient and customized way.
The link-up between Stafford and Nacua in a crucial moment during the game will have been driven by the insights provided by the SVS technology.
“This is a space that we’ve really leaned heavily into,” McVay said. “It’s coming and it’s going to be a valuable tool. You can’t run away from it.
“This is an opportunity for us to say – in a league that has such small margins of victory week in and week out because of the level of competition – what are some of the ways that we can create edges or win in the margins?”
The benefits of the technology are not limited to in-game decision-making, with McVay claiming the data it provides can be used ahead of kick-off.
The system is an invaluable tool to data analysts, who will be able to use it to provide more detailed game strategies in the run-up to NFL fixtures.
It significantly speeds up the process of gathering information, which can be critical in recognising offensive and defensive formations.
“We have people up in the booth who are responsible for charting a lot of the things that Copilot can sequence and segment in a much more accelerated manner, and so that’s going to allow us to be able to make better in-game decisions,” McVay added.
“And it’s going to increase the overall efficiency of what we’re trying to get to our players in real-time. It’s going to be a big deal for us.”
Having defeated the Texans in their opening game of the season, the Rams have laid the foundations to enjoy a productive year in NFC West.
It will be intriguing to see how McVay’s utilisation of the latest technology impacts their fortunes during the rest of the campaign.