NFL, Congress Wary of Rising Drone Incursions During Games

American lawmakers and major sports leagues—including the NFL, NCAA, and others—seek greater authority to ground rogue drones.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 04:28 PM ET

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The latest incident occurred over the weekend during a college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. [Courtesy: Ohio State University]

Key Takeaways:

Drone incursions over NFL and NCAA stadiums are rapidly increasing, nearly doubling in the last season, causing game disruptions, arrests, and raising significant safety concerns for officials and lawmakers.
Despite existing FAA regulations prohibiting drones around stadiums during events, local law enforcement and stadium staff currently lack the authority to prevent or intercept rogue drones.
Only the FBI and DHS possess the authority to counter drones, primarily at major events, leading to calls for new bipartisan legislation to extend drone jamming and takedown powers to state and local law enforcement, a move supported by sports leagues but with concerns about potential overreach.

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In football, there are many routes a receiver can run. There’s the “slant,” where the player runs a few steps forward before cutting across the field. An “out” or “comeback” calls for a cut toward the sideline.

Then there’s the “go” route, typically a straight sprint down the field—coaches sometimes refer to this as a “fly.” But it appears some drone pilots have misinterpreted the terminology as a cue.