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    Finalists and judges announced for ‘1st and Future’ Super Bowl startup competition

ROCHESTER, Minn. — The National Football League (NFL), Comcast NBCUniversal and Mayo Clinic today announced the finalists and judges for 1st and Future, the NFL’s annual Super Bowl start-up competition designed to spur novel advancements in athlete safety and performance.

Nine companies will present game-changing technologies to prominent group of judges in a live showdown.

NFL 1st and Future logo

Entrepreneurs and innovators will compete in three categories—Advancements in Protective Equipment, Technology to Improve Athletic Performance, and New Therapies to Speed Recovery. One winner from each category will be selected by a panel of judges comprised of former NFL players, entrepreneurs and medical experts.

During the program, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell; Chairman of NBC Broadcasting & Sports Mark Lazaru; Mayo Clinic President and CEO John H. Noseworthy, M.D.; and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will participate in a panel discussion about the role of innovation in sports, moderated by Scott Hanson of NFL Network and host of NFL RedZone. Hanson will also emcee the pitch competition.

The live event will take place at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis on February 3, 2018, the day before Super Bowl LII.

NBC Sports will livestream the full competition on Feb. 3 at http://nfl.nbcsports.com/2018/01/22/watch-nfls-1st-and-future-competition/.

For more details, please visit https://nflcommunications.com/Pages/FINALISTS-AND-JUDGES-ANNOUNCED-FOR-THIRD-ANNUAL-“1ST-AND-FUTURE”-SUPER-BOWL-START-UP-.aspx

About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education and research, providing expert, comprehensive care to everyone who needs healing. Learn more about Mayo Clinic. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network.

Media contact: Duska Anastasijevic, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu