OFFICIAL RULES
These Official Rules ("Official Rules") govern participation in the NFL Innovation Hub Challenge at the 2026 Draft (the "Challenge" or "Competition"). By submitting an entry, each entrant ("Participant") agrees to these Official Rules and to the Competition Participant Agreement ("Participant Agreement"). If there is any conflict between these Official Rules and the Participant Agreement, the Participant Agreement controls. For purposes of these Official Rules, the "Organizer" means the NFL and/or its designee/administrator.
1) NO PURCHASE; VOID WHERE PROHIBITED
No purchase or payment is necessary to enter or be considered. The Challenge is void where prohibited or restricted by law.
2) ELIGIBILITY
The Challenge is open to technology teams, organizations, and individuals with working products and demonstrated capabilities, including entities from adjacent industries that can adapt solutions to the NFL ecosystem, whose submissions align to the Challenge Categories, and who meet all requirements below.
Eligibility conditions include:
- Age: Participants must be at least 18 years old at the time of entry, or the age of majority in their jurisdiction (whichever is older).
- Entity type: Individuals, teams, startups, established companies, and other organizations are eligible.
- Geography: Open only to residents of the United States, subject to applicable laws, including sanctions compliance.
- Ineligible parties: Employees, officers, and directors of the National Football League, its member clubs, and their respective parent/affiliate companies, vendors and agents involved in the Challenge, and their immediate family/household members, are ineligible.
- Sanctions compliance: Entrants must not be subject to U.S. sanctions or located in embargoed jurisdictions; all entries must comply with U.S. export‑control and sanctions laws.
The Organizer reserves the right to verify eligibility and to disqualify any Participant who does not meet these requirements or who violates these Official Rules or the Participant Agreement.
3) AGREEMENT TO OFFICIAL RULES AND PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT
By participating, each Participant agrees to be bound by these Official Rules, the Participant Agreement, and by the decisions of the Organizer, which are final and binding and at the sole discretion of Organizer in all matters related to the Challenge, subject to applicable law.
4) CHALLENGE OVERVIEW; CATEGORIES
The Challenge focuses on three strategic areas aligned to the NFL's digital and business priorities (the "Challenge Categories"):
- Fan Journey & Personalization
- Local Monetization & Commerce
- Event Discovery & Global Engagement
Submissions should be designed and evaluated for readiness within the NFL OnePass ecosystem, as applicable. The NFL OnePass App is the centralized digital platform for NFL‑led events and is required for registration and attendance at events such as the NFL Combine and NFL Draft. The App supports venue entry and provides access to interactive maps, event schedules, and registration for on‑site activations, including games, player signings, and autograph sessions. Fans can download the app in the App Store or on Google Play. For more information on OnePass, please visit: What is NFL OnePass.
5) CHALLENGE TIMELINE
All dates are subject to change at the Organizer's sole discretion. Any updates will be communicated via the Challenge webpage and/or email to the address provided at submission. All applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM PT on the final day of the Apply (Scouting) period. Late submissions will not be accepted.
- Apply (Scouting): Feb 26 – Mar 22, 2026
- Finalist Selection (Combine): Mar 23 – Mar 27, 2026
- Virtual Qualifier (War Room): Apr 6 – Apr 10, 2026
- Draft Week Recognition (Draft Day): Apr 23 – Apr 25, 2026
6) HOW TO ENTER
To enter, submit an application through the official submission method listed on the Challenge webpage during the application window. Entries must include all required submission elements described below. Incomplete entries may be disqualified.
7) SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Validated demo or working product required. Entries must include a validated demo or working product and must clearly demonstrate what you've built, how it works, and why it matters.
Required entry elements:
- Team/organization/individual name and primary contact information
- Category selection
- 2–3 sentence solution summary
- Working demo link or product walkthrough video link
- Problem statement and target user
- Current state of build
- OnePass ecosystem alignment notes (as applicable)
- Proof of validation indicators (e.g., users, pilots, metrics, partnerships)
Optional supporting materials:
- Pitch deck (PDF link)
- Technical overview (architecture / API readiness)
- Security/privacy considerations (if relevant)
Prohibited submissions:
- Entries that are idea-only concepts or slideware without a validated demo or working product are not eligible.
8) EVALUATION PROCESS
The Challenge is a virtual-first, multi-phase evaluation process designed to assess real-world applicability, technical readiness, and alignment with the NFL's OnePass ecosystem.
Entries may be reviewed through automated and/or expert review. Shortlisted teams may be invited to provide live demos and additional details as part of validation and qualifiers. The Organizer may request additional information to verify claims or clarify solution functionality. Failure to respond within seventy-two (72) hours of such request may result in disqualification.
Finalists may be recognized during the NFL Draft. Recognition, timing, format, and requirements are subject to change at the Organizer's sole discretion.
9) JUDGING CRITERIA
Technology is evaluated the same way the NFL evaluates talent: through preparation, performance, and fit.
Evaluation focus:
- Technical Readiness & OnePass Integration: Demonstrated product maturity and alignment to operate within the OnePass ecosystem.
- Operational Feasibility: Practical implementation approach, including realistic timelines, costs, support model, and rollout considerations.
- Fan Engagement & Content Experience: Ability to boost the fan experience at NFL touchpoints, drive engagement and repeat use, and enable storytelling/shareable experiences across platforms.
- Monetization Potential: Clear path to measurable business value through revenue, commerce, sponsorship, or scalable economics.
- Impact: Measurable improvement to fan outcomes (e.g., experience, engagement, participation).
- Innovation: Differentiated approach and meaningful value-add.
- Scalability: Ability to expand across markets, venues, and events.
- Category Fit: Alignment to Challenge Categories and League priorities.
The Organizer reserves the right to apply, weight, or interpret criteria in its sole discretion, consistent with these Official Rules and the Participant Agreement.
10) FINALISTS; PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
If selected as a finalist or qualifier participant, a Participant may be required to:
- Confirm availability for scheduled sessions.
- Provide additional demo access and/or technical documentation.
- Participate in virtual qualifier programming and/or briefings.
- Comply with event security, credentialing, and operational requirements (if any in-person activation occurs).
Failure to meet these requirements may result in disqualification or removal from finalist status.
11) RECOGNITION; NO GUARANTEED PILOT OR COMMERCIAL ARRANGEMENT
Selection as a winner of the Hub Challenge constitutes official recognition by the NFL and qualifies participant(s) for further exploration and discovery. Winning or recognition does not guarantee a pilot, partnership, deployment, procurement, investment, compensation, future work, or any commercial contract. Any subsequent testing, pilots, procurement, or business relationships will follow standard League processes and will require a separate, formal written agreement executed by authorized representatives of the parties.
12) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; LICENSE GRANT; NO CONFIDENTIAL SUBMISSIONS
Participants retain ownership of their pre-existing intellectual property and their original submission materials, subject to the license granted in the Participant Agreement.
Important: Do not submit confidential source code, trade secrets, or other confidential materials unless specifically requested and protected under a separate written agreement.
13) PUBLICITY; USE OF NAME AND LIKENESS
Except where prohibited by law, Participants agree that the Organizer may use the Participant's name, company name, solution name, logo, and publicly shareable submission materials for Challenge-related communications (e.g., applicant/finalist announcements, showcase features), without compensation. Finalists/winners may be asked to sign additional publicity releases.
Public Statements and Press Embargo: Participant shall not issue any press release, social media post, or other public announcement regarding its participation in the Competition, status as a finalist, or any other matter related to this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Organizer. All Competition-related news is subject to a strict embargo until the date and time of the Organizer's official announcement. Any violation of this embargo or unauthorized public statement may result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of any recognition or benefits.
14) NFL MARKS; BRAND RESTRICTIONS
Participants have no right to use any NFL or member club trademarks, logos, names, slogans, uniforms, helmet designs, or other brand assets ("NFL Marks") for any purpose unless expressly authorized in writing by the NFL. Any unauthorized use of NFL Marks may result in immediate disqualification and may be subject to legal remedies as described in the Participant Agreement.
15) AI USAGE AND DATA RESTRICTIONS
15.1 Disclosure of AI Use
If a Participant uses artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning tools to generate or modify any part of their entry or submission materials, the Participant must clearly disclose the use and the extent of AI involvement in their submission.
15.2 Restriction on Sponsor/Organizer Data for AI Training
Participants agree that any data, information, content, or materials provided by the Organizer, Competition sponsors, or related third parties will not be used to train, test, tune, or refine any artificial intelligence, machine learning, neural network, large language model, or similar technology.
15.3 Compliance with AI Tool Terms
Participants are solely responsible for complying with the terms of use and licensing agreements of any AI tools used and ensuring such use does not infringe third-party rights.
16) CODE OF CONDUCT; DISQUALIFICATION
The Organizer reserves the right to disqualify any Participant who:
- Submits false or misleading information.
- Violates any law or third-party rights.
- Attempts to interfere with or undermine the Challenge.
- Engages in harassing, discriminatory, unsafe, or otherwise unacceptable conduct.
- Violates these Official Rules or the Participant Agreement.
Organizer may refuse, remove, edit, or require changes to submissions that are unlawful, infringing, unsafe, or inconsistent with these Rules or the Agreement, and may withhold or revoke recognition if compliance concerns arise.
17) PRIVACY
Information collected from Participants will be used for Challenge administration, communications, and evaluation, and handled in accordance with the NFL’s privacy policies and applicable laws.
18) DISCLAIMER
The Challenge is provided "as is." The Organizer is not responsible for late, lost, incomplete, corrupted, or misdirected submissions, technical failures, or other issues outside its control.
19) COSTS AND EXPENSES
Participation in the Challenge is voluntary and provided at no charge to the Participant. Each Participant shall be solely and exclusively responsible for all costs and expenses they choose to incur in connection with their entry, participation in the Challenge, or any subsequent activity, including but not limited to development, equipment, travel, labor, and legal fees. The Organizer shall have no obligation to reimburse Participant for any such costs or provide any compensation, except as expressly set forth in a separate, formal written agreement.
20) CONTACT
For questions, email hubchallenge@nfl.com.