Football is all about getting the ball over the goal line. Now teams will know more than ever about how the ball got there.

Starting Thursday night, when the New England Patriots play the Kansas City Chiefs to open the season, every game ball will have a tracking chip inside. Among other things, this will, in theory, help determine how fast and how high quarterbacks throw and kickers kick. About a third of the N.F.L. teams have also equipped their facilities so they can track balls in practices, not just in games.

The technology comes as leagues across the sports landscape are collecting more and more data so coaches can better understand their players and television broadcasters can better illustrate the intricacies of the game.

The N.F.L. has been no exception. For the last two years, each player has had a chip inserted in his shoulder pads so that radio transmitters in stadiums can track his every move on the field. Teams have used that data to determine how fast and how far players run, and to better understand offensive and defensive patterns.