What Happens to Old NFL Footballs?
What Happens to Old NFL Footballs?
By Edcel Panganiban July 25, 2024 10:02
The National Football League (NFL) is among the most followed professional sports leagues worldwide, entertaining millions of fans each season. The game revolves around football, a key during action in this soccer league. But what happens to those footballs after they've done their job on the field?
The NFL's Football Supply
All 32 NFL teams receive a shipment of 108 footballs per week during the regular season and playoffs. Fifty-four are specifically called "practice balls," and the other 54 are "game balls." Note: These 54 game balls were not used in the arena between them. Both teams can pick 24-36 balls, with up to 12 "kicker balls," which they can use during play.
Disposal and Repurposing
Used footballs that show enough wear and tear to warrant retirement are typically either junked, given, or sold away. The team may keep any balls in fair condition and use them as practice balls the next week.
Donations and Recycling
While many footballs may be discarded, the NFL and its partners have found creative ways to reuse this equipment through donation and repurposing programs. NFL Green, the NFL's environmental program, works to reduce the impact of its events and leave a "green" legacy in host communities. NFL Green works with local organizations to donate and repurpose materials, like used football.
Recycling and Donating Materials
NFL Green recycles a variety of materials at NFL events, including decor fabric, carpeting, building materials, and even used footballs. The items are then donated to local public service organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, schools, and artists. This not only saves the materials from ending up in a landfill but also provides community organizations with valuable resources.
Super Kids-Super Sharing
Among NFL Green's signature initiatives is its Super Kids Super Sharing Program, which redistributes books, sports equipment, and school supplies to local children in need. The final destination: an underprivileged kid in a Brazilian favela enjoying a new soccer ball.
Turn Footballs into Something Unique
Organizations have found ways to donate used NFL footballs and other creative means of repurposing them into interesting products.
Custom Hats and Accessories
The K Messick Co. is one of several businesses that take retired NFL footballs and repurpose their leather into custom hats and other accessories. Not only does this give the footballs a new life, but it also supports local small businesses and high school sports programs.
Memorabilia and Collectibles
This also has led to a healthy business for NFL memorabilia and collectibles as the balls are auctioned off. The footballs used in the big game are frequently auctioned or sold as exclusive souvenirs so fans can grab a tangible piece of NFL history.
How NFL Footballs Affect the Environment
There are also huge environmental impacts from how used NFL footballs get disposed of and rebirthed.
Waste and Landfill Contribution Reduce
The NFL and its partners keep used footballs out of landfills by donating or repurposing them, diminishing the league's environmental footprint. That effort falls within the NFL's larger sustainability work, which targets reducing carbon footprints in its events and ensures a positive, lasting legacy for host communities.
Improving Transparency and Accountability
With the ongoing scrutiny surrounding much NFL conduct, perhaps this would be an area where the league could demonstrate greater commitment to environmental responsibility and community engagement by showing transparency in its football disposal and repurposing practices.
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