What NFL Coaches and Claims Examiners Have in Common

NFL coaches get 40 seconds between plays to make decisions. Insurance adjusters manage hundreds of claims at once. Both jobs are stressful. Both are using AI to get better at what they do.

Kevin O'Connell and other NFL coaches now use AI-powered tablets on the sideline. They're not the first to try technology in high-pressure situations. But they're seeing real results.

The Pressure Is Real

Picture this: 70,000 screaming fans, cameras everywhere, and you have less than a minute to decide what play to call. That's an NFL sideline.

Now picture this: dozens of complex injury cases on your desk, each one affecting someone's life and livelihood. That's a claims adjuster's daily reality.

Both jobs require quick thinking under pressure. And both are finding that AI helps cut through the noise.

The NFL's Approach

The league partnered with Microsoft to put AI tools directly in coaches' hands. They process about 500 million data points each season. The goal isn't to replace coaching instincts. It's to give coaches better information faster.

Aaron Amendolia from the NFL explains it simply: "This is not AI making decisions. It's AI allowing people to get at information faster."

That's exactly right.

What I'm Seeing in Insurance

Having been a claims examiner myself, I'm watching the same principles apply to our industry. AI can watch thousands of claims simultaneously and spot patterns no human could catch. Not because examiners aren't capable. But because the volume is just too massive.

I'm seeing carriers where AI surfaces the cases that need immediate attention. It highlights details that might otherwise get missed in the shuffle. Claims examiners still make all the decisions. They still use their experience and judgment. But they're working smarter, not harder.

The Results Speak

The NFL saw 700 fewer missed games due to injuries in 2023 compared to 2022. Better data helped teams keep players healthier.

I'm seeing similar improvements across insurance companies adopting AI tools. Claims examiners can focus on the cases that need attention most. They spot problems earlier. They make better decisions about treatment and recovery.

But the numbers don't tell the whole story. The real win is helping injured workers get back to their lives sooner.

Why It Works

Both the NFL and insurance learned the same lesson: AI works best when it supports people, not replaces them.

Coaches still call plays. Claim examiners still manage claims. But both have better tools now.

The key is building trust. NFL coaches were skeptical at first. So were insurance professionals. But when you show real results, skepticism turns into adoption.

What's Next

More NFL teams are adding AI tools this season. More insurance companies are following suit.

The early adopters in both industries are seeing clear advantages. Better decisions, faster processes, improved outcomes.

That creates pressure on everyone else to catch up.

The Bottom Line

AI isn't magic. It's a tool. But it's a powerful one when used right.

The NFL figured this out. Forward-thinking insurance companies are figuring it out too.

The question isn't whether AI will change these industries. It already has. The question is how quickly companies will adapt.

Having worked in claims myself, I know change doesn't come easy. But I'm seeing the results firsthand. AI is making good examiners even better.

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