Developed at Dartmouth College, the MVP Drive provides an alternative to player-on-player tackling during football practice.

Writer: Carly Terwilliger

Rogers Athletic unveiled its MVP Drive Robotic Tackling Dummy, a tool intended to help prevent football-related injuries and concussions.

​​A group of researchers and engineers at Dartmouth College, led by Head Football Coach Buddy Teevens, decided it was time to put an end to player on player tackling during practice. By simulating human motion, the MVP Drive allows players to practice tackling, blocking, pursuing, evading and throwing at a mobile target.

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin said, “I imagine it’s a great tool from a tackling tech standpoint. In today’s NFL, with player safety the focus that it is, I think it’s going to provide opportunities to improve in that area without the hand to hand or man to man combat associated with that teaching.”

Rogers Athletic GM Kevin McLeod commented, “The MVP Drive is a tool that was created to provide the most realistic playing experience without human involvement.   The concept holds true from Pop Warner to the National Football League as well as any other sport that desires to reduce the risk of injury through unnecessary contact.”

The MVP Drive is available exclusively through Rogers Athletic.

Photo courtesy Rogers Athletic