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Pro Football Focus

Pro Football Focus (PFF) is a sports analytics company specializing in , providing detailed player grades, advanced statistics, and analytical tools for the (NFL), , , and the . Founded in 2006 by Neil Hornsby in the as a focused on NFL player , PFF began by manually grading every player on every play to offer insights beyond traditional box scores. Initially operating from Hornsby's one-bedroom apartment north of , the company grew through its emphasis on data-driven evaluation, attracting subscribers and NFL teams as clients by 2014. In 2014, NBC broadcaster and former NFL player Cris Collinsworth acquired a significant stake in PFF, impressed by its analytical depth, and by 2015, he had become the majority owner and CEO, relocating the headquarters to Cincinnati, Ohio. Under Collinsworth's leadership, PFF expanded its offerings, including fantasy football tools, betting analytics, and prospect rankings, while maintaining its core methodology of comprehensive play-by-play grading. In 2021, private equity firm Silver Lake invested a minority stake valued at $50 million, supporting further growth and technological advancements in sports data. Today, PFF serves as a key resource for fans, media, and professional teams, employing a team of analysts to deliver real-time insights and rankings across football levels.

History

Founding and Early Development

Pro Football Focus (PFF) originated in the , founded by Neil Hornsby, a management consultant and avid fan, who grew frustrated with the shortcomings of conventional box-score statistics that overlooked the contextual details of player performances. In 2004, Hornsby began independently grading players on every snap as a personal project to address these gaps, initially covering partial seasons in 2004 and 2005 while working full-time in consulting. This effort laid the groundwork for PFF's core grading philosophy, which emphasized comprehensive, play-by-play evaluations to provide a fuller picture of on-field contributions beyond aggregate stats like tackles or yards. The company was officially established in the UK in 2006 as a hobbyist venture, with Hornsby enlisting a small group of fellow British NFL enthusiasts to assist in the manual review of game film. By 2006, PFF completed its first full grading of an NFL season, analyzing every player on every play across all games—a monumental task undertaken without advanced technology or automated tools. Early development was marked by significant challenges, including limited access to official NFL data such as player snap counts, which were not released until after the season, forcing the team to rely on painstaking manual tracking and basic video review setups in Hornsby's one-bedroom apartment. PFF maintained an exclusive focus on the during its formative years, prioritizing the league's professional level to refine its analytical approach before any diversification. The public launch of the PFF in 2007 marked the transition from private grading to accessible content, initially attracting modest traffic as Hornsby shared insights derived from the budding database. This phase solidified the organization's commitment to building a robust, self-sustained repository of performance data through human expertise, despite the labor-intensive nature of the work.

Relocation and Expansion

In 2014, former NFL player and broadcaster acquired a significant stake in Pro Football Focus, prompting the relocation of its headquarters from the to , , where it integrated with his , Lightborne Communications. By 2015, Collinsworth had become the majority owner and CEO. This move facilitated operational scaling and positioned PFF closer to the NFL's core market in the United States. That same year, PFF broadened its analytical scope by expanding coverage to football, marking a shift from its initial focus to include college-level performance data. The expansion aligned with growing demand for detailed player evaluations beyond professional leagues and supported PFF's growing role in talent scouting. Under Collinsworth's leadership, PFF underwent substantial organizational growth, increasing its workforce from a small core team to over 600 full- and part-time analysts by 2025, enabling comprehensive game charting across multiple leagues. In , founder Hornsby stepped down as CEO amid strategic changes. PFF further extended its reach in 2023 through a partnership with the Canadian League, providing advanced and player grades for all nine CFL teams, complementing its existing services to every one of the 32 teams and all 134 NCAA Football Subdivision programs. In December 2024, PFF outlined a forward-looking strategic vision aimed at strengthening its leadership across the broader ecosystem, emphasizing innovative tools for teams, media, and fans.

Ownership and Business Operations

Ownership History

Pro Football Focus was founded by Neil Hornsby in the , where he maintained full ownership from its inception in 2006 until 2014. During this period, Hornsby developed the company's core player grading system as a personal project, gradually expanding it into a subscription-based analytics service without external investors. In 2014, former NFL player and broadcaster acquired a majority stake in PFF for approximately $6 million, implying a total company valuation of around $10 million at the time. This transaction marked the shift from founder-led to investor-backed operations, with Hornsby retaining a significant minority stake and transitioning to . In September 2021, Silver Lake made a minority investment of about $50 million in PFF, valuing the company at $160 million. This infusion of capital supported further expansion into international while preserving Collinsworth's majority control and Hornsby's ongoing involvement. By 2022, amid strategic shifts following the Silver Lake investment, Hornsby sold half of his remaining stake but retained a minority position, while stepping down as CEO in July of that year. Collinsworth maintained his majority ownership throughout these changes, with no additional partners selling their full stakes at the time. As of 2025, there have been no major ownership transitions reported, with Collinsworth continuing as owner and Silver Lake holding its minority interest.

Products and Revenue Model

Pro Football Focus operates a dual , serving both consumer-facing and (B2B) markets to generate revenue from football analytics. The consumer side targets fans, players, and sports bettors through subscription-based access to data, grades, and tools, while the B2B side licenses advanced analytics and custom services to professional teams, college programs, media outlets, and academic institutions. On the consumer front, PFF offers tiered subscriptions centered around PFF+, which provides premium statistics, player grades, rankings, snap counts, expert analysis, in-season fantasy tools, and betting insights. Annual PFF+ subscriptions typically cost around $100, with monthly options at $24.99, though promotional pricing can reduce the annual rate to $99.99 for first-time subscribers; higher-tier options like legacy plans have been priced up to $199 annually for advanced projections and dynasty league support. These products emphasize accessibility for individual users, with features such as mock draft simulators and weekly content series to aid decision-making in fantasy and betting contexts. PFF's B2B offerings include custom feeds, reports, and analytics tools like the PFF Football Database (covering NFL from 2006 onward), PFF Ultimate for , and PFF IQ for learning-based evaluations and planning. These services are sold to all 32 NFL teams (at approximately $150,000 per team annually), the NFL league office, over 134 FBS college programs, 70 FCS teams, and additional clients in media (e.g., ), sportsbooks, agencies, and . Partnerships, such as with Teamworks for predictive roster insights and Sportlogiq for tracking , enhance these tools for client-specific needs like evaluation and negotiations. Revenue primarily derives from consumer subscriptions and B2B licensing fees, supplemented by sponsorships and media partnerships that integrate PFF data into broadcasts and content. The team contracts alone contribute millions annually, with broader B2B clients adding significant scale through tailored licensing. In , PFF faced internal challenges from "turf wars" between its consumer and B2B divisions, exacerbated by a $50 million from Silver Lake that prioritized consumer expansion but yielded limited results, such as only a basic app. This led to the firing of consumer GM Chahrouri amid reports of a toxic environment, multiple high-profile departures (including analysts Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo), and a strategic refocus on the more stable B2B analytics side, prompting layoffs and talent loss amid rising competition from automated tracking technologies.

Analytical Methods

Player Grading System

Pro Football Focus (PFF) employs a comprehensive player grading system that evaluates every player on every play in a game, capturing nuanced performance beyond traditional box-score statistics. This methodology, central to PFF's analytical approach, assigns grades on a scale from -2.0 (poor performance) to +2.0 (excellent performance) in 0.5-point increments, where 0.0 represents the average or expected outcome for that play. These raw play-by-play grades are then aggregated and normalized to a 0-100 overall scale, with 60.0 considered average, scores in the 70s above average, the 80s good, and 90 or higher . The process emphasizes individual contributions, isolating a player's role while accounting for the broader context of the play. Grading is inherently position-specific, tailored to the demands of each role on the field. For offensive linemen, for instance, separate are calculated for pass-blocking and run-blocking effectiveness, recognizing that success in one does not necessarily translate to the other. Contextual factors heavily influence these assessments, including the difficulty of the assignment—such as blocking a premier pass-rusher versus an average defender—the quality of the opponent, and game situations like down and distance. A short-yardage gain might earn a higher grade on third-and-long than on first-and-10, as expectations adjust for situational demands, ensuring grades reflect relative value added or subtracted. The grading process relies on a team of trained analysts to maintain consistency and accuracy. PFF employs over 600 full- or part-time analysts worldwide, but fewer than 10% achieve the level required to grade plays, with only the top 2-3% handling evaluations. Analysts undergo rigorous, multi-week programs focused on PFF's and criteria, followed by ongoing evaluation; each game is reviewed by multiple graders to minimize variance and ensure reliability. Despite this human-centric approach, the system incorporates contextual normalization post-grading, adjusting overall scores for opponent strength and specific roles to provide a fairer comparison across varying circumstances. PFF's grading system originated in 2006 as a manual process, with analysts reviewing game film play-by-play to build a foundational database of performances. Over time, it has evolved to incorporate advanced video review software that enhances efficiency in tagging and , though the core evaluations remain driven by human judgment to capture subtle nuances like and decision-making that algorithms cannot fully replicate. These grades form the basis for PFF's advanced metrics, though the raw methodology prioritizes detailed, play-level assessment over derived statistics.

Advanced Metrics and Statistics

Pro Football Focus (PFF) has developed a suite of proprietary advanced metrics derived from detailed play-by-play charting, extending beyond foundational player grades to quantify nuanced aspects of performance such as generation, tackling , and coverage effectiveness. These statistics address limitations in traditional box-score data by incorporating contextual factors like time to and missed opportunities, enabling more precise evaluations of individual contributions. Signature metrics include pass-rush win rate, which calculates the percentage of eligible pass-rushing snaps (excluding screens, RPOs, and spikes) in which a defender beats their blocker to apply pressure on the within 2.5 seconds, emphasizing speed and technique over outcomes alone. For tackling, PFF tracks missed tackle rate and tackling efficiency to assess defenders' ability to complete stops, accounting for opportunities where players are in position but fail to wrap up the ball carrier. For run blocking, PFF applies grade adjustments such as reach-block grading, which evaluates an offensive lineman's success in executing reach blocks to seal the edge on outside runs, factoring in both execution quality and frequency to highlight specialized skills. On the offensive line, pressure measures the rate at which a lineman allows pressures (sacks, hits, or hurries) on pass-blocking , providing a direct of pass-protection reliability independent of team-wide outcomes. Defensive coverage metrics encompass separation , tracking how often a prevents a from gaining meaningful separation (typically three yards or more) on routes, and target rate, which quantifies the proportion of passing where a is the primary of the quarterback's throw. These build on base coverage grades by isolating defender-specific responsibilities in man or zone schemes. PFF's expansive database supports these metrics through comprehensive grading across the and major college conferences, allowing for large-scale and year-over-year comparisons. The platform also integrates expected points added (EPA) analytics, which estimate the point-value impact of each play to contextualize metrics like pressure success or separation prevention within game situations. In 2024, PFF introduced additional advanced metrics, including tackle-for-loss rate for front-seven defenders, further refining evaluations of run defense. PFF's grading incorporates adjustments for execution errors, such as misreads or failed blocks, directly influencing run- and pass-blocking efficiency.

Coverage and Impact

Leagues and Scope

Pro Football Focus (PFF) primarily concentrates its analytical coverage on the (NFL), providing comprehensive data for all 32 teams by evaluating every on every play since the 2006 season. This includes detailed grades, snap counts, and situational statistics such as performance in specific down-and-distance scenarios or against particular defensive schemes, enabling in-depth assessments of individual and team contributions across the regular season, , and preseason. In addition to the NFL, PFF extends its scope to , focusing on programs since 2014, with full coverage of all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams and selective coverage of Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) games and teams as of 2025. This analysis incorporates player grades, snap counts, and situational stats for every FBS game, alongside specialized draft prospect evaluations that track potential NFL talent from their collegiate performances; for FCS, grading focuses on select games post-season to support prospect analysis. PFF also covers select professional leagues beyond the NFL, including the Canadian Football League (CFL) with data for all nine teams following a league-wide established in 2023, as well as emerging U.S. spring leagues like the United Football League (UFL). For these leagues, PFF applies the same rigorous methodology of player grades, snap counts, and situational metrics to all games, though coverage depth remains more targeted compared to the NFL and NCAA. While PFF's core emphasis remains on , it has explored limited international applications, such as early data explorations in non-U.S. contexts, but maintains a football-centric () scope without extensive high school or women's league coverage to date. Looking ahead, PFF announced in late a strategic vision for 2025 to expand its across the broader ecosystem, aiming to enhance tools for diverse stakeholders—including AI-driven insights by 2030—while building on its established , college, and professional league foundations.

Adoption by Teams and Media

All 32 teams subscribe to Pro Football Focus (PFF) services, utilizing the company's for prospects, planning, and . PFF's web-based platform provides teams with customizable access to advanced metrics, enabling for draft decisions, such as identifying high-value prospects based on historical performance grades, and in-game adjustments through real-time visualizations. For instance, teams leverage PFF's grades and participation to inform trade scenarios and roster management, contributing to more -driven front-office operations. PFF data has become integral to media coverage, with player grades prominently featured in NFL broadcasts and publications. NBC Sports' Sunday Night Football displays PFF rankings under player bios, a practice driven by broadcaster Cris Collinsworth's ownership stake in the company, enhancing on-air analysis of performances. Partnerships extend to outlets like ESPN and fantasy platforms, where PFF grades inform articles, highlights, and draft guides, amplifying the company's role in shaping public discourse on player value. Beyond professional and media applications, PFF data supports academic research and strategies. Researchers at over 25 universities access PFF datasets for studies on player valuation, such as developing wins-above-replacement models using grades and snap counts to predict success. In betting, sportsbooks incorporate PFF metrics for odds-setting, with tools like the 2025 Player Prop Tool—launched in August 2025—providing and matchup insights to evaluate prop bets. PFF's influence extends to broader NFL operations, including player contracts and staffing decisions. Grades from PFF contribute to contract negotiations by establishing performance benchmarks, as seen in artificial intelligence models that assess fair market value based on historical data. Analytics-driven approaches, bolstered by PFF, have shaped coaching hires toward staffs emphasizing data integration for strategy. In 2025, PFF's adoption has intensified following a 2024 strategic refocus, with enhanced tools for real-time in-game analytics driving greater reliance among teams and bettors, including a February partnership with Teamworks to integrate advanced data for college programs. The company's new player prop and matchup tools, updated live during games, support immediate decision-making and have solidified PFF's position as a core resource across the football ecosystem.

Reception

Criticism

Critics of Pro Football Focus (PFF) have frequently highlighted the subjectivity inherent in its player grading system, which relies on human evaluators to assess every play rather than fully automated metrics like the NFL's Next Gen Stats. This manual process can introduce biases and inconsistencies, as graders must interpret complex on-field decisions without complete knowledge of a player's assignments or schemes, leading to potential misjudgments. For instance, in a 2025 Chicago Bears win over the Washington Commanders, PFF assigned rookie quarterback Caleb Williams an unusually low overall grade of 46.1, despite his solid statistical output, sparking widespread debate about the evaluators' contextual application and drawing comparisons to more objective tracking data from Next Gen Stats. Concerns about overreliance on PFF grades have also emerged among teams, media outlets, and players, who argue that treating these scores as definitive can lead to misguided personnel decisions and unfair public perceptions. Former players like have publicly stated that PFF's evaluations "suck" and influence coaches and executives excessively, potentially overshadowing traditional scouting and film study. Similarly, defensive tackle criticized the system in 2024 for fostering skepticism among athletes who feel their nuanced contributions are undervalued, contributing to broader discussions on how media amplification of grades affects player morale and contract negotiations. PFF's proprietary grading scale, which converts raw play evaluations into a 0-100 format, has faced scrutiny for limited , particularly regarding processes that adjust scores across positions and seasons for comparability. While PFF discloses some methodological overviews, the exact algorithms and weighting remain internal, prompting debates among analysts about whether these adjustments reliably mitigate biases or obscure inconsistencies in cross-player comparisons. This opacity has led to calls for greater methodological to enhance trust in the system's objectivity. Reports in 2024 of internal challenges at PFF, including "turf wars" among , alongside significant layoffs in 2022, further eroded perceptions of and organizational stability. Multiple former employees attributed a talent exodus to mismanagement under executive Sam Chahrouri, with the company conducting layoffs that affected key analytical roles amid a strategic shift following a major investment. These issues raised questions about the consistency of PFF's output during a period of expansion into advanced analytics. PFF has responded to these critiques by emphasizing the contextual depth provided by its graders, arguing that human analysis captures nuances beyond automated statistics, such as pre-snap and scheme-specific impacts. Majority owner has defended the process, inviting skeptics to observe operations firsthand and underscoring the scale of play-by-play reviews as a strength over purely quantifiable alternatives.

Notable Personnel

Cris Collinsworth, a former for the and longtime analyst, became the majority owner of Pro Football Focus in 2014, acquiring a significant stake that has since grown to include full majority ownership. His involvement has strengthened PFF's media partnerships and visibility, leveraging his broadcasting platform to promote the company's to NFL audiences. As chairman, Collinsworth has guided strategic expansions, including the 2021 investment from Silver Lake, while maintaining influence over PFF's direction amid its push into AI-driven tools. Neil Hornsby founded Pro Football Focus in 2006 from his apartment in , initially as a project charting plays, and served as CEO until 2022. He pioneered the company's signature player grading system, which evaluates every player on every snap, establishing PFF as a leader in . Hornsby stepped down following the Silver Lake investment to allow for new leadership focused on scaling operations, though he remains recognized as the architect of PFF's foundational methodologies. Among current executives, Austin Collinsworth serves as , overseeing day-to-day operations and contributing to PFF's 2025 strategic vision of AI-enhanced analytics to support team decision-making. Ben Stockwell, Head of Data Collection since 2020, leads oversight of the grading process, ensuring consistency in player evaluations drawn from PFF's vast database; his role builds on prior experience as Director of Analysis, where he refined grading protocols. These leaders drive PFF's emphasis on advanced metrics amid a 2025 push for innovative tools like integration. Notable alumni include , who worked as a senior analyst at PFF from 2014 to 2016, grading NFL players and honing skills before advancing to offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans. , a senior analyst and primary quarterback evaluator at PFF from 2016 to 2018, transitioned to NFL coaching roles, including quarterbacks coach for the , and now serves as offensive coordinator for the , applying PFF-derived insights to scheme development. joined PFF in 2017 as Director of Football Oversight, providing defensive expertise from his NFL coaching career until his passing in 2019; his tenure bridged traditional coaching knowledge with analytics. PFF employs over 800 staff across continents, with a core team of elite graders—numbering around 60—specializing in play charting and evaluation. These graders often have backgrounds in , statistics, or former playing experience, enabling nuanced assessments that inform PFF's outputs for teams and media.

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