Super Ball Champs!

The year’s biggest football game is on February 9! Even though the teams that play in the Super Bowl change every year, we do know one star of the show: the football.

The Wilson Football Factory in Ada, Ohio, has been making NFL footballs since 1955. The factory employs more than 150 people who craft nearly 500,000 footballs each year. They make up to 2,500 every workday! “Every football is made by hand,” says Kevin Murphy. He runs  Wilson’s team sports division.

The biggest football game of the year is on February 9. It’s the Super Bowl! The teams that play in this championship change every year. But there’s one thing that’s always the same: the football.

The Wilson Football Factory in Ada, Ohio, makes every NFL football. They’ve been doing it since 1955. More than 150 people work at the factory. They craft nearly 500,000 footballs each year. That’s up to 2,500 every workday! “Every football is made by hand,” says Kevin Murphy. He runs the team sports division at Wilson.

Modern NFL footballs are the exact same size, shape, and weight as in the past, explains Murphy. That means that when a player breaks a record for longest kick, it’s the player who makes the difference, not the ball. “Consistency in the factory is extremely important,” says Murphy.

Super Bowl season is the most exciting time at the factory. Workers watch the conference championship games and have a pizza party. Once they know which two teams are going to the Super Bowl, they work through the night to stamp the team names on the official game balls. Then they ship the balls out the next day. “For the factory staff in Ada, the Super Bowl is their time to shine,” says Murphy. “Their craftsmanship is on display for the world to see with every snap, pass, and touchdown.”

NFL footballs have been the same for 70 years, explains Murphy. They’re the exact same size, shape, and weight now as they were in the past. That matters when a player breaks a record, like for longest kick. Since the ball is the same, you know it was the player who made the difference. “Consistency in the factory is extremely important,” says Murphy.

Super Bowl season is the most exciting time at the factory. Workers watch the playoff games and have a pizza party. Once they know which two teams are going to the Super Bowl, they get to work. They spend all night stamping the team names on the official game balls. They ship the balls to each team the next day. “For the factory staff in Ada, the Super Bowl is their time to shine,” says Murphy. “Their craftsmanship is on display for the world to see with every snap, pass, and touchdown.”