I’m sure you’ve heard of the NFL – the biggest professional football league in the United States and Canada, and the home of many of the world’s best players. But do you know who makes the official football used in all NFL games? It may surprise you to learn that in the United States, all NFL footballs are made by Wilson Sporting Goods.
When I was younger, I was engrossed in NFL, and I was used to just seeing the NFL logo on the balls. I never thought to ask about the company behind the footballs that make up the great game. But as I got older, I started to become more interested in the behind the scenes of the NFL. And from what I learned, I was impressed by the dedication of the company, Wilson Sporting Goods, who have the honour of making every official NFL football.
They have been doing the job for decades, since 1941. Before then, no one knew that NFL footballs were actually made by the same company – Wilson. In fact, Wilson supplied the leather for wholesale jerseys the first NFL football ever. Back then, the leather was tanned in Chicago and then hand sewn by A.G. Spalding & Bros. Wilson revolutionised the production process by mass producing the footballs.
The process of making NFL footballs is as remarkable as the results they produce. It takes over an hour of hand labour to construct and inlay each ball – all from high-grade leather. Raw materials sourced from the United States are imported to Wilson’s facility in Ada, Ohio. It is there that the cowhide panels used for the footballs, are cut, assembled, and then passed through a series of tests to make sure they meet the highest standards.
What made me truly appreciate the work of Wilson was when I visited their facility and saw the process firsthand. During my visit, I was allowed to create my own signature NFL football by carving my initials into the leather with their famous Wilson branding tool! To this day, my personally crafted NFL football is proudly displayed in my home.
Now that I know who makes the official NFL footballs, I have a newfound respect for Wilson and the excellent work they do. It is easy to take for granted the fact that every touch down and field goal is made possible by the hard work and dedication of Wilson – the company behind the NFL’s official footballs!
Recently, I’ve been fascinated to learn just how critical the quality of the NFL ball needs to be for it to be the perfect sphere for optimum performance. For wholesale jerseys from china example, I’ve learned that for a ball to be an NFL football, it must have a circumference between 21 and 21 3/4 inches, and the weight must be between 14 and 15 ounces. It also must be made of high-grade leather with a double-laced rubber bladder protectant to minimize water absorption.
Additionally, every NFL football is tested by automated air pressure machines to ensure it meets the standards of the league. This is no small feat considering the strict regulations that NFL footballs must comply with. For instance, the pressure of the footballs is checked to make sure they are between 11 1/2 and 13 1/2 pounds per square inch. Wilson takes great pride in meeting this criteria and ensuring the best gameplay possible.
An interesting fact is that NFL footballs are extremely unique, as the panels and laces can never be completely identical. The NFL insists that each football have a horizontal line of symmetry, but that two footballs can never be completely symmetrical. This means that every Wilson NFL football has its own special identity, which makes it that much more interesting when I watch the games!
Furthermore, NFL footballs aren’t just limited to football. NFL-style footballs have been used in many other sports, such as Ultimate Frisbee and rugby. This goes to show how versatile and durable the NFL footballs are. I’ve even heard of people using them for their home games.
All in all, I think it’s really cool to know who makes the official NFL footballs. Wilson certainly deserve credit for their hard work and dedication, not just for NFL games but for the larger global sports community. Their footballs are truly the star of the show.