NFL Teams Turn to Anti-Drone Systems to Protect Stadium Skies
The Jacksonville Jaguars have partnered with Sentrycs, a drone defense company, to protect EverBank Stadium on game days. The system can detect and take control of unauthorized drones by intercepting their communication links and landing them. The NFL has recorded thousands of drone violations near stadiums in recent years, and some games have been paused by such incidents.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are the first NFL franchise to publicly confirm a drone-defense partnership. Sentrycs, part of Ondas, will operate around EverBank Stadium on game days, with its first activation scheduled before Jacksonville faces New England.
League data show 10,852 drone violations near stadiums from 2021 through 2025, though only a small share interrupted play. A 2025 Baltimore playoff game was paused by an overhead drone, echoing a 2023 incident. Sentrycs says it has also reached agreements with two other NFL clubs.
Stadium drone defenses could make game days safer and less interruptible for fans, players, and staff, while giving police faster ways to locate unauthorized operators. Their wider use may also normalize aerial surveillance and radio monitoring around large events, affecting nearby residents and legitimate drone users. How leagues and authorities balance security with privacy and airspace access may shape public expectations for future concerts, festivals, and other gatherings.