The origins of the NFL's QB communication system

In 1956, two Cleveland Browns fans invented the first quarterback helmet radio, but the NFL banned the technology for almost forty years. Find out how the sideline communication system works (and sometimes doesn’t) from Warren Moon, Trent Dilfer, and Brian Billick, who were all part of the league's first season with the technology in 1994.

[rascalguy]

"the first quarterback to use a helmet"

[Blankenboom]

The Browns probably spend a lot of money on radio helmets for their QBs

[darker]

I've honestly always wondered how this technology evolved. great video

[alexconnor]

awww, remember when the Browns were innovative and good? those were the days

[TheAlfrulz]

I thought there were two main things that led to the NFL ban on the helmet radio.
One was the opposing teams immediately in the following weeks tried their own equipment to listen in on the browns calls or to intentionally scramble the signal.
Two, the technology still hadn't been perfected and ratterman the qb swore he was getting intermittent transmissions from local taxi cabs as well as the coaches plays.

[derekdonahue]

I love that it cuts out with 15 seconds left on the play clock. Which means it's then left to the QB to read the defense and audible, and vice versa.

[brodiewheldrake]

If one guy with the green dot gets injured does the next guy have to wear his sweaty helmet?

[richpeianus]

Never thought I would hear Browns and Championship in the same sentence ever

[scottjones]

This video is terrific! I went down the rabbit hole of other SB Nation-produced videos and I'm really enjoying them. Cool subjects, good storytelling and use of animated illustrations. Great stuff! (I do this sort of thing as an amateur and a professional)

[zaneprice]

I never knew that the frequency cut off. That's actually a cool tidbit to know

[wtblack]

Yeah, the radio doesn't speed up the game as much as how the game is played. Just look at college football, no radio, plenty of speed...

[cannonfrye]

Dilfer is the most powerful last name i’ve ever seen

[bruinsfan]

didnt the middle linebacker backers get headsets like last year. idk

[drivventodrumm]

I believe all the helmets are used to communicate. I’ve been taking clips of random players, not the QB or a D player covering the ear holes exactly like you would if you were trying to hear something

[dietwater]

Bradshaw called his own plaus and still got 4 rings.

[crubber]

If I were a headcoach in the NFL I'd use different Baseball signals for every single play each week that I'd show my QB.

[twincities]

Neva knew they had ear pieces in them helmets at all that’s crazy. U noe I’m a NBA guy not much on nfl tbh but that’s dope

[bennybarri]

Anyone else notice right at the very start how Griffin was used as an example for not being able to hear because of the crowd even though he's wearing a radio helmet. He's got the green sticker.

[jakedoc]

thx for initiating the hey cortna feature of my windows with the hey coach brown saying lol

[MrSafer]

lol trent dilfer interview i bet that was the only one he got in years. guy was carried so hard by the monster ravens defense.