At long last, a significant NFL rule change that every coach, player and fan has wanted is coming to life.
Sony announced on Tuesday that the NFL has adopted its “Hawk-Eye technology” to measure first downs for the 2025 season. Though the technology will be the top priority to help officials determine the line of gain, the “chain gang” will be used as a secondary option.
Not only will this NFL rule change allow the officials to make correct rulings, but Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology will speed up reviews as well. Sony claims that the entire process only takes about 30 seconds, cutting the average review time for a first down in half:
“Sony’s Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system allows the NFL to accurately and efficiently measure the distance between the spotted ball and the line to gain. The technology, tested extensively last season, will bring a new level of precision and speed to NFL officiating.
Hawk-Eye, which will be deployed across all 30 NFL stadiums and the international venues hosting NFL games, consists of six 8K cameras for optical tracking of the position of the ball. The system is operated from the NFL’s Art McNally GameDay Central Officiating Center (AMGC) in New York and is integrated with the league’s existing replay system.
As on-field officials are notified of the measurement outcome, virtual recreations of measurements are produced in real time for the in-stadium and broadcast audience. The full operational process takes around 30 seconds, saving up to 40 seconds from a measurement with the chains.”
Indeed, it’s an NFL rule change that’s a win-win for everyone. Congrats to the NFL officials on reduced scrutiny from here on out.
Pushes for the NFL to replace the chain gang with Hawk-Eye technology increased significantly after a controversial ruling in the Buffalo Bills-Kansas Chiefs AFC Championship Game.
Josh Allen’s Bills were up 22-21 early in the fourth quarter and clinging to a one-point lead. Facing a 4th-and-inches situation, Allen tried a quarterback sneak up the middle and appeared to get the first down, with one official seemingly giving him the first.
But the officials determined that Allen was short. The Chiefs got the ball back and never trailed again as they went on to reach a third straight Super Bowl.
Another Long Overdue NFL Rule Change That Finally Goes Through
Aside from adopting Hawk-Eye technology, the NFL also changed its regular-season overtime rules that now guarantee each team one possession. Previously, the guaranteed possession for each club was only in effect for the postseason.
The NFL has the technology and resources to fix every flaw in the officiating system. There’s plenty of work to do, but adopting the new first down technology is certainly a nice start.
