NFL Strikes Deal to Give Players Control of Wearable Data

The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) and human performance company Whoop are connecting on a deal that will give athletes the ability to control and even sell their own health data from a wearable device.

According to an announcement from the organizations, this is the first time a players association in professional sports has partnered with a wearable technology company, providing NFL players access to, ownership of, and the option to commercialize their health data.

The product, Whoop Strap 2.0, will be distributed to every current and incoming NFL player to allow them to monitor their strain, recovery and sleep. The strap is a lightweight, waterproof and screen-less device that’s worn on the wrist, forearm or upper arm. What’s more, the strap’s five sensors measure data 100 times per second and automatically transmit the data to the Whoop mobile and web apps for analysis and actionable recommendations, according to officials.

As part of the agreement, the strap is now the officially licensed recovery wearable of the NFLPA. Further noteworthy parts of the deal are:

• NFL players will own and control their individual data collected with the Whoop Strap 2.0.
•  NFL players will design custom licensed bands for the Whoop Strap for personal use and commercial sale.
• The NFLPA and Whoop will study the effects of travel, sleep, scheduling, injuries, etc. on recovery and generate reports to advance player safety and maximize athletic performance.
• NFL players will have the ability to commercialize their Whoop data through the NFLPA’s group licensing program.

“Every day, NFL players produce data that can translate into physiological and financial opportunities. We see partnering with Whoop as the first step in harnessing this exciting technology,” Ahmad Nassar, President of NFL Players Inc., said in a statement “We are excited to have Whoop and its innovative, holistic monitoring technology serve as our first OneTeam Collective deal. Together, we’re paving the way towards a new frontier where athletes are empowered by data.”