What does it take to build one of the most complex sports schedules in the world?
The day after 2025-2026 National Football League game schedule was released, The Washington Post explored that question in an in-depth look at how artificial intelligence is influencing the NFL’s approach to scheduling, spotlighting the broader trend of AI-driven schedule optimization in professional sports.
Fastbreak AI was recognized in the article as a company that's defining this new era of sports operations.
“We’ve increased the speed, and we’ve increased the accessibility,” said John Stewart, CEO of Fastbreak AI. “The problems are getting more and more complicated, mostly because the media landscape is getting more complicated and you’ve got more stakeholders.”
The article discusses how leagues are using AI to evaluate millions of scheduling possibilities, model fan engagement and fairness, and balance competing demands from venues, media partners, and travel logistics. As the scheduling process becomes more data-driven and complex, AI is becoming an essential tool across the industry.
“Instead of defining hundreds of constraints, we can just say, ‘Hey, we don’t want any road trips below a score of five.’ We’ve taught our algorithms the definition of ‘good.’” said Stewart.
Fastbreak AI is part of a movement reshaping how sports organizations, from pro leagues to youth tournaments, optimize operations. Whether it's scheduling, registration, travel, or ticketing, automation and intelligent systems are becoming the foundation of modern sports operations management.
