Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Drones and NFL Games
In this video I will discuss the issue of drones and NFL games. The NFL, or National Football League is a multi-billion dollar business that can gain access to the highest levels of the US government if the NFL feels there is a problem that needs attention.
Drones and NFL games are a problem that is getting worse. For each NFL game the FAA puts in a restricted area of 3 NM and 3,000 feet above ground level from one hour before the game until on hour after, with no drone flights allowed. Yet in 2023 there were over 2,500 illegal drone flights observed over NFL games.
The NFL has a Chief of Security, Cathy Lanier. Cathy was formerly the Washington DC Chief of Police and has been in charge of NFL security since 2016. Ms. Lanier collects statistics on NFL drone incursions and has briefed Congress on this issue.
The issue of drones and the NFL is relevant as an NFL game is about the worse possible place to violate an FAA restricted area. People are in the stadium, 35 to 40 television cameras are in place and the NFL is highly incentivized to locate the errant drone pilot.
The solution for all RC and drone pilots is to follow FAA rules and not violate restricted airspace. The consequences for the hobby could be severe.
Chapters
00:00 - Intro
00:24 - Overview
01:44 - FAA and NFL drone rules
03:59 - NFL Chief of Security drone report to Congress
10:22 - Why do we have drone rules now?
13:29 - FAA UAS sightings report
14:53 - FAA and extra work
16:29 - Drones and Ukraine
Drones and NFL Games
In this video I will discuss the issue of drones and NFL games. The NFL, or National Football League is a multi-billion dollar business that can gain access to the highest levels of the US government if the NFL feels there is a problem that needs attention.
Drones and NFL games are a problem that is getting worse. For each NFL game the FAA puts in a restricted area of 3 NM and 3,000 feet above ground level from one hour before the game until on hour after, with no drone flights allowed. Yet in 2023 there were over 2,500 illegal drone flights observed over NFL games.
The NFL has a Chief of Security, Cathy Lanier. Cathy was formerly the Washington DC Chief of Police and has been in charge of NFL security since 2016. Ms. Lanier collects statistics on NFL drone incursions and has briefed Congress on this issue.
The issue of drones and the NFL is relevant as an NFL game is about the worse possible place to violate an FAA restricted area. People are in the stadium, 35 to 40 television cameras are in place and the NFL is highly incentivized to locate the errant drone pilot.
The solution for all RC and drone pilots is to follow FAA rules and not violate restricted airspace. The consequences for the hobby could be severe.
Chapters
00:00 - Intro
00:24 - Overview
01:44 - FAA and NFL drone rules
03:59 - NFL Chief of Security drone report to Congress
10:22 - Why do we have drone rules now?
13:29 - FAA UAS sightings report
14:53 - FAA and extra work
16:29 - Drones and Ukraine
