The NFL has expanded its equity investment in data company Genius Sports through a two-year contract extension announced Wednesday. The deal grants the league an additional 9.5 million stock warrants worth over $90 million at current market rates.
The extension runs through early 2030 and builds upon the NFL\'s existing 14.5 million warrants acquired in 2021. Genius Sports serves as the exclusive distributor of official NFL data across betting, media, and fan engagement platforms.
Under the new agreement, 4.5 million warrants vest immediately while 5 million additional warrants vest in April 2028. Once fully vested, the NFL will own approximately 8.7% of the publicly traded company, making it Genius Sports\' largest shareholder.
NFL\'s Growing Investment Portfolio
The league\'s total stake in Genius Sports is now valued at more than $230 million. The company\'s stock has surged over 80% in the past year to nearly $10 per share, recovering from earlier declines.
Additional regulatory requirements activate when ownership reaches 10% of a public company. The NFL appears positioned to remain below that threshold based on current warrant allocations.
\"The NFL delivers a tremendous platform to accelerate our business, and we are thrilled to extend and grow our strategic partnership,\" said Genius Sports CEO Mark Locke.
The Genius Sports investment represents part of the NFL\'s expanding venture portfolio, which includes stakes in Fanatics and EverPass Media. Many NFL licensees and business partners purchase Genius Sports data, creating interconnected revenue streams across league operations.
\"Across data, video, advertising, and integrity services, Genius has proven to be an important strategic partner,\" said NFL VP Brent Lawton.
The original 2021 deal established Genius Sports as the exclusive distributor of official league data, positioning the company at the center of the NFL\'s digital and betting ecosystem.