Hamza Memon and Nicholas Panzo, students in the Texas A&M University College of Medical Engineering (ENMED), are leading an innovative project at the intersection of sports and ophthalmology to improve National Football League (NFL) officiating. Deeply rooted in Houston’s vibrant sports culture, these Class of 2026 students combine their interest in ophthalmology and love of sports to significantly contribute to an innovative project with the NFL.
The two students met during a summer engineering program and quickly bonded over their shared aspirations in sports and ophthalmology. This friendship led them to Dr. Andrew G. Lee, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Blanton Eye Institute at Houston Methodist Hospital. Under Lee’s tutelage, Memon and Panzo dove into a novel project aimed at honing the skills of NFL referees through neuro-ophthalmology training.
Their efforts have already yielded results, with two major papers published and more to come. The first study, published in the Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology, presents a specially designed program on neuro-ophthalmological principles tailored to NFL referees. The results were promising, showing a statistically significant improvement in referees’ knowledge following the training. This suggests a positive reception and willingness among NFL referees to incorporate these principles into their on-field decision-making processes.
The second manuscript, published in Visionprovides a comprehensive overview of existing neuro-ophthalmology research and its application in NFL officiating. The study offers innovative recommendations on how referees can use 2D game data to create 3D simulations, thereby improving their training and on-field performance. Additionally, the team has created weekly quiz questions that test referees’ understanding of neuro-ophthalmology principles as they relate to the game.
One memorable moment was watching the Houston Texans pull off a 21-16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in November 2023, all while discussing the practical application of neuro-ophthalmology training by NFL referees during the game.
This innovative initiative showcases the versatility and interdisciplinary skills of ENMED students. It also demonstrates the potential of medical principles to improve sports officiating. Memon and Panzo have set a new standard for the integration of medical and engineering knowledge in sports, offering a promising future where science and athletics can collaborate to ensure accuracy and fairness.
The team would like to thank Walt Anderson, former NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Training and Development, for his valuable insight and support on this project. Anderson currently serves as an NFL Rules and Officiating Analyst.