Microsoft’s expanded partnership with the NFL is bringing AI deeper into the game, potentially turning Copilot into the new scapegoat for questionable playcalls. While Tom Brady may no longer be throwing slates into the air, the new tech integration means coaches and players now have access to AI-powered tools that could reshape how decisions are made on the field. As part of the multiyear deal, Microsoft has rolled out a suite of AI-driven features across all 32 NFL teams. One standout is a GitHub Copilot-powered tool that analyzes game situations and suggests plays based on real-time data, team performance, and opponent tendencies. Meanwhile, a Microsoft 365 Copilot dashboard helps analysts in the booth rapidly sort through vast spreadsheets and game data, enabling faster insights during games. Every team’s Sideline Viewing System is now connected to more than 2,500 Surface Copilot Plus PCs—each featuring prominent “Copilot” logos on their carrying straps—ensuring that AI assistance is front and center during critical moments. With this level of integration, it’s only a matter of time before fans and media start asking coaches whether a bad decision was based on a poorly worded prompt. “I asked Copilot to find a play that worked against this defense, and it gave me a run to the left,” might soon become a common postgame excuse—especially if network hiccups don’t provide an alternative alibi. Microsoft and the NFL also highlighted broader AI applications, including analyzing draft prospects’ performance outside the Combine, delivering data-driven insights for football and business operations, and boosting efficiency across departments like finance, human resources, and event management. As AI becomes embedded in every layer of the league, the line between human judgment and machine suggestion may grow increasingly blurred—especially when the scoreboard isn’t on your side.