Duane Hoffmann / msnbc.com /

NFL players 25 years from now will in all likelihood be bigger, faster, stronger, have better equipment and sophisticated technology aiding them on the field, writes Nick Sagan.

Future Force Football
Steelers coming with the blitz, Barlow takes the handoff up the middle. Spins out of the tackle, he’s on the loose! Only one defender to beat and … no! Monster hit from Coleman sends him flying. That’ll make the highlights. But Barlow pops right back up. It’s amazing the amount of punishment these players can shrug off.

The United States Army is taking steps to revolutionize protective gear with the Future Force Warrior program. By capitalizing on several converging state-of-the-art technologies (including powered exoskeletons, nanotechnology, and “smart fluid”), they’re working to create extraordinarily shock resistant body armor that stiffens at the point of impact.

This program is scheduled to come to complete fruition exactly 25 years from now, with the first planned deployment scheduled for as early as 2010. Variants of these military technologies can be retrofitted to create smarter, stronger NFL gear. Players will be able to both take and dish out more explosive hits with fewer injuries. Everything we like about the game can be enhanced, and with players’ safety taking priority.

Of course, there’s a delicate balance that must be struck between technology and tradition.  For example, Future Force Warriors will benefit from 360 degree awareness in their visors, but this might be ill suited for the NFL, as it runs the risk of taking away from the enjoyment we get watching a quarterback’s natural ability to sense his surroundings and dodge blitzing linebackers. (A player who seems to have eyes in the back of his head is less impressive if he actually has cameras that show him what’s behind him.)

The NFL recognizes the need for this balance as it looks forward. As Mike Signora puts it, “Innovation is one of Commissioner Goodell’s key priorities. He has often stressed the need to challenge assumptions, embrace technology and find new and better ways of doing things. This is pursued with a sense of respect and appreciation for the rich history of the NFL, the 32 teams and the many great players of today and years past.” 

By keeping an eye on the past as we move into the future, the NFL has potential to evolve into an even more exciting league, without losing the fun and competitive spirit that made fans of us all.

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