An experienced business consultant and former athlete, Jason Gesser founded Grit Consulting, LLC to help businesses in sales, data, and sports technology grow their organizations. Complementing his work at Grit Consulting, Jason Gesser maintains a professional interest in sports data analytics.
The 2019 NFL season saw a major change in the use of analytics across the league. It marked the first time that player-tracking data was available leaguewide, enabling coaching staff to analyze plays more effectively and understand players better. This is leading to a fundamental shift in the way that teams operate, from drafting new players to assessing their opponents.
Though the widespread availability of player data is groundbreaking, the relationship between the NFL and analytics is nothing new. Joe Banner instituted the first analytics department in the NFL while serving as president of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1990s. For years, however, analytics served primarily as a tool for front offices in the league. Coaches shied away from utilizing statistics because they felt as though it hampered their ability to make decisions.
As analytics have made their way to coaching staff, more teams have been using data to try and get an edge on the competition. Some have been slower to embrace this technology, but those that have yielded impressive results. Analytics influenced the Eagles’ aggressive play style that helped them win the Super Bowl in 2018. Others like the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings have used analytics to source talent and shape their rosters.
Jason Gesser 