NFL Lays out how footballs will be guarded in Super Bowl

NFL Lays out how footballs will be guarded in Super Bowl

The NFL will add extra security in order to watch over the footballs during Super Bowl XLIX, due to recent controversy surrounding the New England Patriots and whether or not the team tried to gain an advantage by deflating some of the balls.

In a typical NFL game each team has 12 footballs that they use. In the Super Bowl however, each team has 54.

"The thing with the Super Bowl is during the first half, we rotate footballs in as much as possible, because then those balls are used for charity and NFL auction," said Dean Blandino, the league's vice president of officiating. "So that's something that's been in place for many years at the Super Bowl."

An additional wrinkle will be added to the exchange between the NFL and each team regarding their footballs, in order to try and alleviate any potential wrong doing. In the days leading up to the game Tony Medlin will be in control of the balls. He is the equipment manager for the Chicago Bears, and therefore a neutral party.

About the Author

Matt Holden is an Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media, Inc. He received his MFA and BA in journalism from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He currently writes and edits for Occupational Health & Safety magazine, and Security Today.

Featured

  • UK’s NHS Hospital Transforms Security with Edge-processing Camera System

    i-PRO Co., Ltd.,(formerly Panasonic Security), a manufacturer of edge computing cameras for security and public safety, recently announced that a leading teaching hospital in Northeast England, has enhanced its security infrastructure with i-PRO X-Series cameras integrated with Milestone’s XProtect Video Management Software (VMS). Read Now

  • Gun Violence Report Finds Retail Spaces, K-12 Schools Most Targeted

    ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation, today announced the release of its annual Gun Violence Report, offering a deep dive into the landscape of gun-related incidents across the United States. This analysis extends beyond mass fatality events, providing a more nuanced understanding of when, where, and why shootings occur. Read Now

  • Agentic AI Will Revolutionize Cybercrime in 2025 According to New Report

    Malwarebytes, a provider in real-time cyber protection, recently released its 2025 State of Malware report, which reveals insight into the emergence of agentic artificial intelligence (AI), plus the year’s most prominent threats and cybercrime tactics. The report details a significant uptick in the number of known ransomware attacks, the total value of ransoms paid in 2024, and how IT teams can address them. Read Now

  • ESX 2025 Announces Expanded Schedule of Events

    ESX has announced its dynamic 2025 schedule, set to provide an unparalleled experience for professionals in the electronic security and life safety industry. Taking place June 16-19 at the Cobb Galleria Centre, this year’s event features an expanded lineup of educational sessions, hands-on workshops, inspiring main stage speakers, networking opportunities, and an engaging expo floor showcasing the latest technology. Read Now

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.