Thanks to a new law, NFL stadiums will be better protected against drones in the future.

Drone concerns in the NFL!

During the 2024 season, 2,300 drones were detected near stadiums, violating temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) on game days.

This has now led to the introduction of a new drone safety law. The NFL announced this innovation in a press release on Thursday.

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“We thank President Trump and our congressmen from both parties who took decisive action to ensure the safety of fans,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

“With the increasing number of drone flights in restricted airspace, it is essential that state and local law enforcement agencies have the necessary means to avert danger. This important step will help protect fans in stadiums across the country,” said the 66-year-old.

Drone defense: Law protects NFL stadiums

The Safer Skies Act was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) earlier this week. It contains a bipartisan provision that gives state and local law enforcement agencies the authority to protect fans from unauthorized drone flights.

Until now, only federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were allowed to combat drones for security purposes. They are responsible for protecting the airspace at major events such as the Super Bowl, while the remaining NFL games have so far been monitored exclusively by state and local security forces – without the ability to actively combat unauthorized drones.

With the newly signed law, state and local security authorities now also have the authority to take measures to defend against and neutralize drones. The new regulation is intended to significantly improve the protection of critical infrastructure and large gatherings of people, including sporting events.