Today we’d like to introduce you to John and Kathy Tomlinson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us John and Kathy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The Quarterback Equalizer, a unique gaming app created by a Black woman techpreneur named Kathy Tomlinson, is designed to teach football players (specifically quarterbacks) their position in a fun and cognitive way. The app, developed by her Dallas-based company, Equalizer Games LLC, allows players to transfer what they learn to the field.
“I’ve spent more than 25 years as a football coach. In that time, I’ve seen the struggles that quarterbacks go through when juggling game plans, defensive pressures, and the speed of the game, all while trying to prepare for an opponent. The Quarterback Equalizer was created to equip and enforce the rules all quarterbacks should have in their mental make-up each time they drop back to pass. It’s all about his eyes!”, says her husband, Coach John Tomlinson, who is CEO of Equalizer Games LLC.
Kathy took her husband’s passion for football and his drive to educate and create a business around it. Since its inception in 2014, Equalizer Games has been singularly focused on the development of the Quarterback Equalizer app. The app is the first in a series of games to be created by Equalizer Games LLC to help users better understand the nuances of football so that they can successfully execute offensive concepts with efficiency.
The Quarterback Equalizer aids quarterbacks – from neighborhood teams and schools to collegiate and professional levels – better understand how to dissect an opponent’s defensive coverage. The Quarterback Equalizer is designed to train the quarterback’s eyes to know what to look for quickly in defensive behavior and to better execute plays. The app can be played on smartphones and tablets.
“We focused on the quarterback because that position requires a great deal of preparation and detail on a weekly basis”, says John. “Many quarterbacks do not fully develop their skill set until their collegiate years. The Quarterback Equalizer can change that by providing additional training off the field that will enrich their abilities on the field. The cool thing about The Quarterback Equalizer is that the player now can go to a virtual classroom and get the help he needs when he’s away from school. It’s an enhancer to the coaches’ scheme but building on the fundamentals of the position”.
In the 25 years that John has coached football, he has had the opportunity to coach at each level from high school, college, and the NFL. He has been a part of three NFL organizations as an intern from the Indianapolis Colts in 2010 spending time daily with Peyton Manning and Coach Frank Reich in the Quarterback Room, to the Cleveland Browns in 2017 where he was an Asst QB Coach/Quality Control Coach for the entire season, and most recently he was an offensive intern with the Oakland Raiders in 2019 serving the RB Coach. He has had the opportunity to hear a common language in each of those organizations. The common language has been fundamentals. John has also bridged his computer science background and his previous extensive career in technology as a guide to bridge his passion with his former IT profession.
“The idea for the app came in 2007 when I was coaching a young, gifted quarterback”, said John says. “I wanted to pour into this talented guy by making sure he understood the nuances of defenses so he could flourish with his physical skill set on the field. From that experience, we set out to create a game that helps a quarterback by reducing the level of complexity in understanding what defenses do when trying to confuse quarterbacks”.
“While football is a male-dominated sport, this app allows everyone to hit the turf as a quarterback,” says Kathy. “The focus of the game is primarily educational, but it does offer an entertainment component as well. Players will easily get drawn into the aesthetics of the app, from the crowd sounds and the appearance of the stadium to selecting your team and level of play from high school to college to the pros. There are playoffs in each level and a coach you can go learn from in a classroom”.
The Quarterback Equalizer is a must-have game for quarterbacks, coaches, avid football fans and sports broadcasters who want to better understand what defenses are doing during the course of a game. It is available in the App Store and on Google Play. With the launch of the Quarterback Equalizer, Equalizer Games has launched a revised Kickstarter campaign. For more information about the Quarterback Equalizer, visit https://theqbeq.com/
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When you are a small fish in a big pond developing the next wave of teaching through sport, it’s hard but we are working vigorously as a small business to build our brand. It’s a 24/7 job but we believe in the product as do coaches and players we’ve met so far.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We have developed a gaming app/tool to enhance a Quarterback’s eyesight and quick thinking to make decisions when playing. Our most recent build provided an enhancement to the game that walks the user through how to log in. This small update has helped increase business tremendously because we have removed second-guessing by our users.
We believe what sets us apart is the ability for the user to have an on field experience that puts them in the helmet while being able to go into a classroom in the game that asks the Coach to help them understand what defenses are doing in the game and how they should attack the defenses. The Virtual Coach is essentially the game changer in that this guy helps the user understand football like never before.
What were you like growing up?
I always loved the game of football. As a little kid growing up in the Washington, DC area I was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, when I was seven I remember crying over the Cowboys losing to the Steelers and that Tight End dropping that ball in the endzone. I’m not sure what it was but the game was always with me. I’ve spent time from NC to Virginia to Dallas coaching. I had a great run of success with some great coaches as well at Cedar Hill High School before moving forward with my NFL opportunities.
Pricing:
- The Game is a free download with an option to purchase.
- The Purchase Package includes Man Package/Starter Package – $7, Man Package is Man Coverages, Starter Package is Zone/Man Coverages. With each Virtual Coach takes you into Quarterback Classroom and breaks down.
- Zone Package – $20 Zone Coverages that Virtual Coach takes you into Quarterback Room and breaks down for you.
- Platinum Package – $27 All Coverages that Virtual Coach takes you into Quarterback Room and breaks down for you.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1408 N. Riverfront Blvd Suite 327
- Website: https://theqbeq.com/download/
- Phone: 469-423-7004
- Email: info@theqbeq.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quarterbackequalizer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheQBEqualizer/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/QBEqualizer
Image Credit:
Equalizer Games
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