Playing in the Super Bowl is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for NFL players. It’s why you often see them holding video cameras throughout the week leading up to Sunday, documenting every step of the way.
But two Seahawks stars are recording the events this week in New York City in a very unique way and with some of the newest tech gadgets on the market.
Let’s start with wide receiver Golden Tate, who surprised media members this morning by donning not only a GoPro camera on the top of his head, but also Google Glass across his forehead.
Golden Tate rocking Google Glass during his interview. #ndsb48 #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/zORQ88KhtH
— Nick Klopsis (@NickKlopsis) January 28, 2014
We first noticed Tate wearing the GoPro as he got off the team plane a few days ago in New York.
“In geek mode with my Go Pro ready to film any and everything,” Tate wrote on Instagram.
However, this morning is the first we’ve seen him with Glass. It’s interesting to see a player turn the tables on the media — instead of all the cameras and microphones recording the speaker, new devices like Glass and the GoPro now allow athletes to document and record those asking the questions.
Here’s what the players saw today, courtesy of Richard Sherman:
Media Day was a blast! pic.twitter.com/5nNwtOQQmv
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) January 28, 2014
You’ve also got to wonder what’s going on in Tate’s Glass screen — is he recording everything, or perhaps receiving instantaneous pointers on what to say, or how to respond? Or maybe he just has a video rolling on the screen because he’s bored. Who knows.
Then there’s Seahawks safety Earl Thomas and his apparent love for the Microsoft Surface. Microsoft, which has a partnership with the NFL, hooked up Thomas with the tablet:
S/O to @Microsoft for my new surface. Everyone will see my experience at the Super Bowl through my eyes #Surface pic.twitter.com/sgQggMlAwZ
— Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) January 27, 2014
Thomas has been putting the Surface to good use, and is letting all his Twitter followers know it:
Thanks to Microsoft @Surface for helping me capture the moment. Even Coach Carroll can't take his eyes of this thing pic.twitter.com/S31s6PjHlc
— Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) January 28, 2014
Even Sherman noticed how much his fellow defensive stud is using the tablet:
https://twitter.com/RSherman_25/status/428204948321734656
We reached out to Microsoft to find out more details, and here’s what they told us:
“With our NFL partnership we get the chance to work with standout players like Earl Thomas,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement. “Earl is fired up to use Surface to document his Super Bowl experience and share it with Seahawks fans around the world.”
I’m excited to see more and more athletes try out new technology, both on and off the field. It’s certainly happening more and more, especially as wearable gadgets become more mainstream. In fact, just last week, Sacramento Kings players tried on Glass while they played a little basketball — pretty cool.
Update, 11:15 a.m.
Looks like another Seahawks receiver, former University of Washington standout Jermaine Kearse, has joined the GoPro train:
Jermaine Kearse and me! pic.twitter.com/MalRLpbmka
— Joyce Taylor (@JoyceTaylorKING) January 28, 2014