Indianapolis Colts and Zebra Technologies Partner for Real-Time Player Performance Insights

The Indianapolis Colts have partnered with Zebra Technologies to track player and ball data in real-time during practice sessions using RFID technology. This collaboration aims to enhance player performance, strategy, and safety. Zebra's MotionWorks Sport system records critical metrics such as player speed, acceleration, and ball orientation. The partnership marks Zebra's 12th year as the NFL's Official Real-Time Location Solutions Provider, further enhancing the Next Gen Stats platform.

The Indianapolis Colts have entered a strategic partnership with Zebra Technologies to implement real-time player and ball tracking during practice sessions using RFID technology. This collaboration, which marks Zebra's 12th year as the NFL's Official Real-Time Location Solutions Provider, aims to enhance player performance, strategy, and safety [1][2][3].

The Zebra MotionWorks™ Sport system, equipped with RFID tags embedded in footballs, shoulder pads, and practice shirts, will provide real-time location system (RTLS) data to receivers around the Colts' stadium and practice facilities. This data will enable the team to track player progress, workloads, and other critical metrics such as player speed, acceleration, deceleration, distance covered per play and cumulatively, ball orientation, player proximity to the ball, and formations [1][2][3].

Mike Minnis, Colts Director of Sports Performance, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: "We are continually seeking innovative tools that equip our players to excel in practice and on game day. Zebra’s tracking solution delivers the critical information we need to make informed decisions about on-field performance, manage player workloads, and guide return-to-play choices. We look forward to using this technology and seeing its positive impact on our team this season" [1][2].

Joe White, Chief Product and Solutions Officer at Zebra Technologies, added, "We are thrilled to welcome the Indianapolis Colts to our roster of esteemed NFL team clients. Zebra’s tracking solution will empower the team to analyze practice data in unprecedented ways. We look forward to this technology translating into the team’s on-field success" [1][2].

This partnership further enhances the NFL's Next Gen Stats platform, offering fans, media, and teams insights into every play. Zebra Technologies has been monitoring over 15,000 players across more than 550,000 plays since 2014 [1][2].

Beyond football, Zebra Technologies also provides better visibility to organizations globally in industries such as retail, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and logistics, helping them boost operational efficiency and real-time decision-making [1][2][3].

References:
[1] https://www.inkworldmagazine.com/breaking-news/indianapolis-colts-zebra-technologies-team-up-with-rfid/
[2] https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/indianapolis-colts-team-zebra-technologies-real-time-player-performance-insights-2025
[3] https://www.barchart.com/story/news/34243494/indianapolis-colts-team-up-with-zebra-technologies-for-real-time-player-performance-insights