Who Supplies the NFL with Footballs?
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Do you ever wonder who supplies the NFL with footballs? It’s a fascinating process that begins with sourcing the highest quality materials. From there, the balls are handcrafted with precision and care. Finally, they undergo rigorous testing to make sure they meet the NFL’s strict standards.
The company that has supplied the NFL with footballs for the past 40 years
The company that has supplied the NFL with footballs for the past 40 years is Wilson Sporting Goods, which is based in Chicago. Wilson has been supplying the NFL with footballs since 1941, and has been the exclusive supplier since 1974.
How the company got started
In 1890, a man named George A. Anson sewed 18 panels of leather into the first-ever regulation football. He then sold it to the Beloit Athletic Association in Wisconsin for US $5.00. The ball was used in the first-ever college football game between Beloit and Stevens Point on November 6, 1890.
During that game, one of the players kicked the ball so hard that it burst open, and Anson was forced to replace it with an inferior one he had brought as a backup. That game marked the beginning of a tradition in which college and professional teams would play with different sized balls depending on the strength of their kicking game.
In 1941, Wilson Sporting Goods Company took over production of NFL footballs. The company has been supplying the league ever since, and has been credited with helping to standardize the size and shape of the modern football.
The process of making a football
Footballs are made of four parts: the bladder, which is made of natural latex rubber; the treads, which are the laces and stitching that hold everything together; the cover, which is made of cowhide leather; and the bladder lace, which goes around the outside of the ball.
The process of making a football begins with a mold that is created from a rubber compound. This mold is then used to create the bladder, which is vulcanized (a process that uses heat and pressure to strengthen rubber). The treads are then hand-stitched onto the bladder, and the cover is fastened with adhesives. Finally, the bladder lace is added to complete the ball.
The company’s impact on the NFL
Wilson Sporting Goods has been the official supplier of NFL footballs since 1941. The company supplies all 32 NFL teams with game balls and practice balls, and has a great deal of impact on the game of football itself.
In recent years, Wilson has taken steps to make its footballs more consistent and more durable, which has led to fewer turnovers and fewer injuries in the NFL. The company has also worked with the NFL to develop new technologies like microchipping, which is used to track the location of each ball during a game.
Wilson’s relationship with the NFL is so strong that it is often said that the company “owns” the sport. This is evident in the fact that Wilson’s logo is on every football that is used in an NFL game.
