Why do NFL coaches wear headsets and who are they speaking to during the Super Bowl?

As the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots meet in Super Bowl LX this weekend, fans will notice coaches wearing headsets.

This is a common theme in the NFL, with almost all coaches on the sidelines wearing microphone gear throughout each game. 

Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots will be in constant communication during the contest as they look to become seven-time champions.

Mike McDonald will be exactly the same in the opposite dugout as well, with the Seahawks seeking only their second-ever Super Bowl win.

Here, talkSPORT.com takes a look at why…

Why do NFL coaches wear headsets? 

Coaches wear headsets to communicate with other staff and players during a game. 

Due to the incredible amount of noise created by the crowd inside a stadium, it’s vital for them to use the equipment to speak to each other. 

The noise-cancelling headsets have a built-in microphone that is used by coaches to send messages to their players, assistants, coordinators or tacticians. 

Some of the staff members will also be on the sidelines, but some will be in a booth somewhere higher up in the stadium.

They will often send messages down to the coaches who are on the field from their vantage points via the headsets. 

It is reported that over 20 coaches can be tuned into the communication system at once, with two channels available – one for offense and one for defense. 

Only one player from the offensive unit and one from the defensive unit will have a communication device in their helmets. 

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Those players can’t speak back to their coaches while on the field, but they can hear the instructions being given to them. 

The helmets of the players who can communicate with coaches are marked with a green dot to show referees who is able to hear the staff.

The quarterback usually has the speakers in their helmet when on the field as they are the key to every offensive play.

They can hear coaches call plays or change approaches, while on defense, the player who communicates with coaches is typically a middle or inside linebacker.

This was a feature introduced to the NFL in 1994 to allow for limited communication between coaches and players when in the middle of a game. 

But headset communication in general, has been around in the league since 1956. 

McDonald and Vrabel will be now in the closing stages of their preparations for the sporting event everyone will be tuned into this weekend – the Super Bowl. 

talkSPORT will have live commentary from California with Will Gavin, Ross Tucker and Gregg Rosenthal.

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The event is also being covered by a wide range of broadcasters.

In the UK, it will be live and free-to-air on Channel 5, with more details of their coverage to follow closer to the time.

Sky Sports are the official broadcaster for NFL in the UK, so they’ll be showing the event as well on their dedicated NFL channel and Main Event.

Alternatively, it can be streamed through Channel 5’s online platform, while Sky Go customers will be able to watch through mobile devices and laptops.

A NOW TV membership can also be purchased, with more information here.

In the US, NBC have the rights to this year’s Super Bowl.

As part of an 11-year broadcast deal, NBC, FOX, CBS and ESPN agreed to rotate who takes coverage each season, and it is NBC’s turn this time.