The chain gang, a staple of football since the invention of first down, has been demoted on the depth chart at the NFL level.
Amid a news-y Tuesday at the league meetings in Palm Springs, Fla., the NFL announced it will utilize a camera system as the primary ball-spotting measure in line-to-gain measurements, effective immediately. Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations won the contract.
"The NFL and Sony are integrating world-class on-field officiating with state-of-the-art technology to advance football excellence," said Troy Vincent, executive vice president of football operations at the NFL. "Combining the art of officiating with Sony's trusted Hawk-Eye system is a healthy recipe for success in our commitment to raising the standards of accuracy, consistency and efficiency. Replay technology and data-driven insights from Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations aid us in advancing our efforts toward the future of football."
The Hawk-Eye system works by using six 8K cameras positioned within the stadium. The NFL began using the system in 2021 for replays, and was tested "extensively" last season, according to the NFL's press release. The chain crew will remain on the sidelines and be used in a secondary capacity.
Utilizing technology to spot the ball has bubbled under the surface for years, but the issue came to a head during January's AFC Championship, when Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was marked short on a 4th-and-1 sneak at the Kansas City 41-yard line with 13:01 remaining. The Bills ultimately lost the game, 32-29.
Bills should have been awarded a first down twice in loss to Chiefs, a breakdown pic.twitter.com/XvbFBZmQPJ
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) January 28, 2025
In addition to a more accurate spot, Sony says its system can speed the game up by 30 seconds per measurement. Sony says its system is used by more than two dozen professional leagues worldwide and is a "critical officiating partner" at major events like tennis Grand Slams, the rugby World Cup, and major cricket tournaments.