Chalk Talk: Love the NFL’s Next Gen Stats? This is How They All Come Together Inside the Command Center

Hear all about the technological feat – and strategic execution by multiple teams inside and outside stadiums – that must happen every game day to give you the detailed play-by-play stats on your devices.

Chalk Talk with Zebra`s Adam Petrus and Hale Hentges
by Adam Petrus
January 09, 2023

2022 was a big year on Chalk Talk, with guests such as:

So, we weren’t sure how we were going to top this star-studded lineup to kick off 2023. Then it dawned on us…who better to talk sports with than the guy who’s collecting data points about every single play in every single NFL game – and several NFL practices – to feed into the NFL’s Next Gen Stats that you and the rest of the world can see on the web, TV, and more!  

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Dominic “Dom” Russo!

Dom supervises all client services for Zebra Sports, including NFL Next Gen Stats, and spends a lot of time in the football command center! I think he has one of the coolest jobs, and what’s interesting is how he landed in this role. I don’t even think most people realize this is something they could grow up to be.  So, take a break from the holiday festivities to meet the man behind NFL Next Gen Stats and find out:

  • how Dom came to be an NFL statistician.  

  • if the NFL Next Gen Stats command center is as cool as it sounds. 

  • everything that goes into delivering Next Gen Stats in real time during each game (including the all-day – and year-round – prep work in stadiums and beyond to make sure every RFID tag is properly placed and online).

  • the stat (or stat package) that Dom finds to be most fascinating. 

  • what excites NFL coaches, players and executives the most about the increased use of RFID and Next Gen Stats.

  • Dom’s favorite NFL team, CFL, and Division 3 football teams.  

  • who Dom thinks is the most impressive quarterback (in the Next Gen Stats era).

  • how else we might see RFID used in the sports world beyond the NFL.

TUNE IN NOW

If you missed past episodes or just want something to binge while recovering from the holidays, here you go:

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Adam Petrus
Adam Petrus is currently the Client Services Project Manager within Zebra Sports at Zebra Technologies where he is responsible for co-managing the game day operation of the NFL’s Next Gen Stats program. Adam has more than 10 years of experience within the sports and technology industry and has been working with Next Gen Stats since 2015. Previously, he worked in the front office of an NFL Football Club and then the United States Intelligence Community supporting business operations.
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