Who are NFL coaches talking to on their headsets? Find out

Who are NFL coaches talking to on their headsets? Find out

Helix Odhiambo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:25 PM

The National Football League fans are familiar with images of coaches wearing their headsets during games. The gadgets are worn for communication purposes and are crucial during games. So, who are NFL head coaches talking to during matches? Find out what these devices do during a game and how the technology has transformed the sport.

Do NFL coaches talk to their headsets?
Seattle Seahawks tactician Pete Carroll wears Bose headphones against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on 26 October 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo: Grant Halverson
Source: Getty Images

Who is the coach talking to on the headset? Football managers wearing one-earpiece or full two-earpiece headsets in the NFL is a practice that started many years ago. So, why do coaches wear headsets in football?

The use of the gadgets dates back to 1956 when George Ratterman of the Cleveland Browns wore a radio helmet in a football game. He was the first player to use the device.

Who are football coaches talking to on their headsets?

Who do the football coaches talk to on their headsets?
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) listens to his headset inside his helmet during a game against the Baltimore Ravens on 26 December 2021 at Paul Brown Stadium. Photo: Robin Alam
Source: Getty Images

NFL tacticians wear the gadgets to speak and listen to their quarterbacks and defenseman. So, besides the two, who do football coaches talk to on headsets? Using the devices, the managers communicate with their assistants in the booth or the stands.

Interestingly, the other coordinating coaches cannot talk directly with the players. Instead, they relay their suggestions to the sideline manager, who sends the message to the footballers on the field.

History of the headsets and radios

Who do football coaches talk to on headsets?
Quarterback Joe Namath of the New York Jets talks on the headset to the tacticians in the booth during a game in the mid-1960s at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. Photo: Kidwiler Collection
Source: Getty Images

Since its inception in 1956, the gadgets have undergone different phases, including being banned and brought back to the league. In 1994, the NFL approved using Motorola headsets for all NFL teams to improve communication between players and coaches.

Bose took over Motorola as the official sponsor of the devices in 2014. However, the deal lasted eight years after the Bose company ended the contract in 2021. In the 2022 season, the headsets were without a sponsor logo.

What headset does NFL use?

Why do coaches wear headsets in football?
Communications equipment on the Panthers bench ahead of their game against the Atlanta Falcons on 30 October 2022 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: David J. Griffin
Source: Getty Images

Who do the NFL coaches talk to on their headsets, and what gadgets do they use? NFL coaches used the Bose SoundComm B30 headphones before the company terminated the deal. The device is ideal for critical wireless communications during games. Its qualities include:

  • Durability - The devices are durable, with a solid design that helps them overcome the wear and tear effects.
  • Fitting - B30 gadgets have single ear cups and dual ear cups that can meet everyone's needs.
  • Noise cancelling - The microphones have perfect noise-cancelling qualities, providing clear communication transmissions. The device uses acoustic noise cancelling technology, increasing low-frequency noise attenuation.

What do NFL coaches hear in their headsets?

Who do the football coaches talk to on their headsets besides the payers? Managers use the devices to get information from colleagues on the stands because they have a better view of the game. But why do NFL coaches talk to their headsets?

The devices help managers instruct their quarterback or defenseman on the playing field. Without it, communicating and coordinating play would be a challenge.

How do football coaches communicate with players?

Can NFL coaches talk to players during play?
Atlanta Falcons' tactician Arthur Smith (centre) looks on from the sidelines during an NFL preseason game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan, on 12 August 2022. Photo: Amy Lemus
Source: Getty Images

Football players usually run over to the sideline to talk to their tacticians. However, the managers can communicate with the quarterback and defenseman using the in-helmet radio devices. Communication is often one-way because players do not have microphones in their helmets.

Can NFL coaches talk to players during play?

Managers can give instructions to their players during play. For the QB and defenseman, it is possible without the players heading to the sideline. The radio devices used by the manager and footballers give them more time to get set and run their plays faster.

Who are NFL coaches talking to on their headsets?

Can NFL coaches talk to players during play?
Jacksonville Jaguars talks to his assistants during an NFL game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Seattle Seahawks on 31 October 2021 at Lumen Field in Seattle. Photo: Jeff Halstead
Source: Getty Images

According to NFL rules, headsets of players who can hear instructions are usually marked with a green sticker to identify them. The stickers signal that the helmet has a speaker inside, clarifying the number of players who can hear the play from a manager.

Can headsets be hijacked?

Over the years, there have been concerns about footballers trying to steal plays from NFL managers. As a result, many offensive or defensive coordinators cover their mouths when talking to limit lip reading from opponents. Sometimes, the gadgets even experience communication failures during games.

Who are NFL coaches talking to on their headsets, and why? As an NFL fan and sports enthusiast, it is crucial to understand the importance of the devices during games. This technology has existed for many decades and remains one of the best football inventions.

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Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.