Mike Tannenbaum and the 33rd Team are expanding their influence on the NFL.
The consulting and data analytics company just announced a Series B funding round that includes a star-studded list of investors as they look to revolutionize the way teams make decisions both in-game and behind the scenes.
“Really excited,” Tannenbaum, the former Jets general manager from 2006-12, told The Post in an exclusive interview. “We did a lot with coaches, we were a media company for a while, and we still have a very robust podcast offering, but where we spend almost all of our time and what we are raising money for is where we believe the future is in data and technology.”
Tannenbaum’s 33rd team is contracted by teams to collect in-game and postgame data and to advise on major decisions, such as hiring general managers and coaches, but also to tell the story of individual games so teams can improve their decision-making.
He added that the company also does consulting, most frequently for colleges.
“It’s information that we collect that’s available to teams after games,” Tannebaum said.
“We collect data on the team’s behalf, and we give them what we believe is very actionable, accurate and timely reports after the game.”
Last offseason, the Jets contracted the 33rd Team to serve as a front-office advisor while hired Darren Mougey as their new general manager and Aaron Glenn as head coach.
“It was great to work with the Jets and do backgrounds and help them with the search,” Tannebaum said. “I obviously know a lot of people in that building, and they’re great people.”
The successes the company has enjoyed allowed for this Series B round.
Investors included Liberty Media, Gary Vaynerchuk, Silver Falcon Capital (the family office of ex-Nascar CEO Brian France) and NFL alumnus Justin Pugh and Matt Patricia, among others.
Although the Jets partnership was publicized, the 33rd Team’s list of clients is not known, with Tannebaum stating most organizations prefer confidentiality due to the competitiveness of the NFL.
Those clients are looking for any type of edge they can find to differentiate themselves from their peers.
“What we try to do is give teams information based on what happened in the game … We are just in the information-gathering business, so they can make their own decisions,” Tannebaum said.
“To take you behind the curtains, it’s a very formulaic approach when you’re in the NFL. Every minute matters. When you get the game over, you have basically 24 hours, good or bad, to do the autopsy. Very quickly, you’re going to your next opponent.”
