While the practice of attaching a microphone to, or “mic-ing” professional athletes, especially within the NFL, is not a new concept, the athletic league has taken a practical strategy and ran with it in the 2020’s.
With small microphones attached to the shoulder pads of football players allowing for increased team communication and play breakdowns, there’s an entirely new platform of entertainment and an inside look into team dynamics that’s been opened as well.
The NFL, using their large social media presence, has begun uploading “mic’d up” moments from each season, allowing audience members and online viewers to be a first-hand auditory witness for the funny, emotional, tense, and most memorable moments from fan-favorite players.
With full compilations uploaded on platforms such as Instagram (reels), Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, viewers are allowed to view their favorite athletes in a way never achieved before.
The athletes are aware of this opportunity, too.
Fully aware of the influence and publicity provided by the public side of mic’ing up, many athletes embrace the opportunity and let their true selves shine through, riffing off of other teammates, joking and engaging in comedic behavior, and showing a full range of emotion from confusion, to frustration, to unadulterated joy on and off the field.
These behaviors humanize these players to the audience and portray them as incredibly relatable- after all, there’s no better feeling than seeing that your quarterback, favorite wide receiver or kicker has the same thoughts, feelings and emotions as you do during football games.
Fan engagement and entertainment is at the top of the priority list for the NFL in posting these videos, taking what may just be the words and actions of an everyday job to an athlete, and transforming it into a unique look into the relationships, bonds and dynamics between players, coaches, referees and staff. Promotion for these players is also important, providing a platform for additional interest in the league from new fans, propelled by the charming and engaging behavior seen (and heard) from the players on the field.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, mic’ing players provides an inside look to the technical side of football that is very difficult to achieve otherwise, offering insights into the tactics, strategies and communication that take place during a game for your hardcore football enthusiasts.
Whatever the reasoning for publicizing this aspect of the league, it’s clear that the bond between fans and athletes will only grow stronger as they continue to show out and speak up.
