NFL is making moves to replace the chain gang
The NFL has announced a partnership with Sony, naming the company its official technology partner. This includes new headsets for coaches starting in 2025 and potential updates to the “chain gang.”
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Sony’s Hawk-Eye tracking services aim to provide advanced line-to-gain optical tracking. This technology will enhance play reviews and critical rulings, ensuring NFL game integrity.
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It would use stadium cameras to track the ball, and instantly notify officials when a first down is gained, without bringing the game to a halt for a chain measurement. The league will test Hawk-Eye technology in some preseason games. If successful, the Hawk-Eye system could be implemented as early as the 2025 season. The league is currently in the installation phase for all of the stadiums.
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The NFL currently uses two orange sticks connected by a chain to measure first downs. While effective, this method occasionally has errors. Even if Hawk-Eye takes over, the chain method will still be a backup.
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The new technology aims to make the game faster and more precise. Sony president Neal Manowitz stated, “We’re saving 40 seconds each time it’s used. The system is accurate to less than half an inch. Fans should appreciate the objective view, or at least half will.”
