NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Says League Is Exploring AI Officiating

The boom of artificial intelligence continues to rapidly expand, with it’s next potential destination being the NFL.

League commissioner Roger Goodell met with reporters on Wednesday and told them that the NFL is exploring ways that AI could assist in officiating and to what extent it could do so. The NFL reportedly wants to avoid paying the salaries that would convince the officials to quit their day jobs, as a large portion of NFL referees are not full-time employees.

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The league already partners with Amazon Web Services to utilize AI for injury prevention and analysis.

If human officials remain a constant, AI could assist with the process of getting tough calls correct and in a timely manner. But the reliance on AI has proven to be a slippery slope, time will tell if the NFL falls victim to it.

James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker

About the Author Published Oct 22, 2025

JAMES PARKER

James Parker is a sports reporter and writer for Ball Exclusives. With a bachelor's degree earned at the age of 19, he’s spent years working as a sports journalist, including an award-winning stint at The Appalachian. He has never used AI for his work in any way, shape or form.