NFL Teams Deploy Drone Defense Technology to Combat Stadium Disruptions

As the 2026 NFL regular season enters its third week, league officials and team owners are increasingly relying on sophisticated counter-drone technology to safeguard stadiums from unauthorized aerial intrusions. The Jacksonville Jaguars made history last month by becoming the first franchise to publicly announce a security agreement with Sentrycs, a drone defense provider owned by Ondas, to monitor and control airspace around EverBank Stadium during game days.

The system was activated for the first time this past Sunday ahead of the Jaguars’ matchup against the New England Patriots. Bobby Lyle, the Jaguars’ Director of Events and Facilities Security, emphasized the necessity of evolving beyond mere detection. “As drones become increasingly accessible, we recognized the importance of moving beyond detection and adding an effective mitigation capability to our security strategy,” Lyle stated in an August news release.

The urgency behind these investments is underscored by data from the league. The NFL reported 10,852 drone violations near its stadiums between 2021 and 2025. While most incidents did not halt play, notable disruptions occurred in 2023 and 2025, when a playoff game in Baltimore between the Ravens and Steelers was paused due to a drone flying overhead.

Previously, the league could only identify and track drones. However, new capabilities now allow security teams to intercept the communication link between an operator and their device, seize control, and force a safe landing. Sentrycs has since signed agreements with two additional NFL teams, though their identities remain unconfirmed.

Beyond the NFL, the league has joined Major League Baseball in writing to the Department of Homeland Security, urging increased resources to protect fans and athletes. The joint letter highlighted that “unauthorized drone activity presents an ongoing and growing challenge.”

The scope of the problem was highlighted during the recent FIFA World Cup, where FBI agents intercepted approximately 700 drones over four weeks. Eric Brock, founder and CEO of Ondas, noted that the volume of aerial traffic was surprising. The federal government had allocated roughly $250 million in funding to state and local authorities prior to the tournament, funds that can now support security at other large-scale events like concerts and festivals.

Jason Moore, Sentrycs’ general manager for the U.S. and Canada, observed a rapid shift in public perception. “Nobody worried about this a few years ago. Now everyone has to worry, and it’s happening very fast,” Moore said. He added that operators must undergo specialized federal certification and utilize a combination of radar, thermal imaging, and radio signal detection to identify threats.

Once a threat is detected, the system can take over the drone’s controls or locate the pilot’s position to alert law enforcement. According to Brock, this process can result in a police response time of as little as two minutes. Kristian Brost, general manager of Robin Radar USA, pointed out that while the threat of explosives or chemical agents exists, the majority of incidents involve negligent operators causing annoyance rather than malicious attacks.

Robin Radar, which also assisted during the World Cup, operates equipment at two dozen European airports. Recent reports indicate that about a dozen major European airports have temporarily suspended flights due to drone incursions over the past year.

Regulatory frameworks are beginning to catch up with the technology. On July 1, the Safer Skies Act took effect, permitting state and local authorities to bring down drones threatening airports and major venues. Mary-Lou Smulders, a drone defense consultant, noted that regulations were historically designed for commercial jets, not small unmanned aircraft.

Defense experts outline a four-stage process for neutralizing drones: detection, identification of speed and altitude, tracking and operator contact, and final interdiction. While some companies like Israel Weapon Industries offer kinetic solutions such as the Arbel rifle attachment, most defense strategies favor disrupting radio frequencies to safely land the aircraft. Smulders cautioned, however, that jamming signals is a “delicate dance” that risks interfering with legitimate communications.