In a blockbuster business move shaking up the sports analytics world, Pro Football Focus—the data-driven football company owned by former NFL star and NBC broadcaster Cris Collinsworth—is being sold. According to a report from Arif Hasan's Wide Left Substack, the acquisition by software and analytics firm Teamworks carries a price tag in the range of $130 million to $140 million.
From Broadcast Booth to Big Business
Collinsworth, a familiar voice on NBC's "Sunday Night Football," purchased a majority stake in PFF back in 2014, transforming it from a niche service into a mainstream football authority. The company's signature player grades have become a staple of NBC's primetime broadcasts, though they've also sparked debate. This sale marks a massive financial score for Collinsworth, who initially opened the company to private investment years ago, securing a $50 million infusion from private equity giant Silver Lake.
That earlier investment valued PFF at approximately $160 million, with some sources indicating its peak valuation soared as high as $223 million. The sale to Teamworks represents the next chapter for a company that has fundamentally changed how many fans and analysts discuss player performance.
Not Everyone's a Fan of the Grades
Despite its prominence, PFF's methodology has its high-profile detractors. Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year and current CBS analyst J.J. Watt has been one of the most vocal critics. "You can't watch film on TV copy and create a grade," Watt stated emphatically on The Pat McAfee Show. "I know defensive line play unbelievably well. I could not go and grade a game for a player and give him a definitive grade without speaking to him, his coach, the scheme, everything... PFF has a ton of great stuff. Player grading sucks. Stop putting it out."
Watt's criticism underscores the central tension PFF navigates: providing accessible, data-driven insights versus the nuanced, assignment-specific reality of NFL play. This debate has only grown louder as the company's influence has expanded.
An Uncertain Future for Content
The sale immediately raises significant questions about PFF's future direction, particularly its media and content arms. According to Hasan's reporting, Teamworks—which focuses on software and analytics for sports organizations—has little history in content creation. There is reportedly "no clear understanding" of what will happen to PFF's popular fantasy football and betting analysis divisions, or its long-standing integration with NBC's broadcasts.
Perhaps more concerning for PFF's staff, the report indicates that management informed the business-to-business side of the impending deal weeks ago, while those on the content and consumer side were largely left in the dark, learning the news indirectly. This communication gap hints at potential upheaval for the brand's public-facing products.
What's Next for the Data Giant?
What is clear is that Teamworks is acquiring a treasure trove of data and proprietary technology. PFF's deep databases and analytical programs hold immense value for a company like Teamworks, which serves professional sports teams. The core business-to-business software offerings were likely a primary driver of the nine-figure purchase.
However, the fate of the content that made PFF a household name among fans remains up in the air. Will the iconic (and controversial) player grades continue to flash on screens during "Sunday Night Football"? Will the army of writers and analysts continue producing the articles and podcasts that fuel countless fan debates? For now, those questions hang in the balance as the deal moves forward.
This sale is more than just a major financial transaction; it's a pivotal moment for sports analytics. It tests whether a data company born in the media world can thrive under ownership focused on enterprise software, and whether the content that built its brand will be seen as a core asset or a dispensable side project. The entire sports world will be watching to see how Teamworks handles its new $130 million acquisition.
