Beats Headphones Join iPads On List Of Products Banned From NFL Sidelines

While NFL stars like Colin Kaepernick might love the Beats by Dre headphones they get paid to wear, they won’t be allowed to sport the fashionable headgear on the sidelines of their games, or even around their necks during post-game interviews, thanks to an exclusivity deal reached between the league and Bose.

Because Bose is now the official headphone of the NFL, players are not allowed to be seen wearing any other brand any time the game cameras are on. So no Beats — or any other non-Bose headphones — during pre-game warmup. The ban extends through 90 minutes after the end of the game, so it’s a no-no to have them around your neck when reporters are hassling you at your locker.

“The NFL has longstanding policies that prohibit branded exposure on-field or during interviews unless authorized by the league. These policies date back to the early 1990s and continue today,” an NFL rep explains to Re/code, adding that Bose and other official sponsors are “not involved in the enforcement of our policies.”

Yes, we’re sure that Bose, Papa John’s and other companies that paid a bundle to become official NFL sponsors don’t have several employees watching games every weekend to make sure that their product are being properly showcased and that others are not.

Beats, which is now owned by Apple, joins its corporate kin in the sideline ban. Since Microsoft paid to have its Surface tablets advertised by the NFL, you are no longer supposed to see coaches or players checking out game footage on iPads.

by Chris Morran via Consumerist