Game Analytics Dashboard helps NFL teams sift through data to find winning edges

The NFL and Microsoft have successfully partnered for years to help teams and coaches break down the game through several technology solutions, including the AI-powered Sideline Viewing System (SVS) and the Excel-based Game Analytics Dashboard with Microsoft Copilot integration, which analysts use to provide data-backed football insights to their teams leading up to gameday and live strategic updates from the coaches booth as the action happens on the field. Additionally, Microsoft is now an official AI partner of the Seahawks.

While all teams have access to the dashboards in the coaches' booth, each club approaches it differently. The Seahawks have seen positive results by embracing the technology and integrating their analytics staff into the team's planning and game strategy decisions.

"The game happens really fast. Play callers are already calling their play before the (previous) play is even whistled dead," says Seahawks director of football analysis and special situations Brian Eayrs. "It's all about anticipating several plays ahead, because if you're reacting to plays, you'll never get the calls right. The analysis in real time is accelerated with the analytics dashboard. We can see things and anticipate better than we've ever anticipated before."

Heading into the 2026 NFL campaign, two major updates to the analytics dashboard will help reshape the way teams can access and analyze information.

First, using the latest Microsoft Copilot in Excel, the analytics assistant will allow staff to build and now edit data with AI, generating insights even faster. Second, analysts will now be able to "cast" live tables, graphs and insights from their dashboard to the SVS devices players and coaches use in the booth and on the sidelines, allowing teams to quickly receive and interpret data during the game while all working from the same source.

The Seahawks are just one of the many NFL teams looking to capitalize on the ability to create faster gameday insights. Analysts across the league are looking forward to the updated features in the Game Analytics Dashboard to help simplify communication with coaches on gameday.

"I'm really excited about the SVS screen sharing feature," says Atlanta Falcons senior data football analyst Andy Grossman. "I think it will be a much smoother process this year. It won't have to take as much time on the airwaves and (the coaches) will be able to visualize more things and make them more actionable. Before, they were trying to listen to a bunch of numbers that I'm reading out and trying to visualize it. Now, with the SVS, they're going to see it right in front of them."