The first down measurement will be undergoing massive changes during the 2025 season. The NFL announced Tuesday a partnership with Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology as the new primary method for measuring the line to gain.
The NFL began experimenting with digital measurement of lines to gain during last preseason; however, more testing and modifications to the system were required before league officials felt comfortable relying primarily on that technology.
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The technology consists of six 8K cameras used for optical tracking of the ball’s position. Tied into the existing replay system and housed in the league’s New York central officiating center, the league plans to use this as an alternative to walking the chains out and manually measuring whether 10 yards have been met for the ball’s spot.
Initial ball placement will still remain in the hands of on-field referees. However, once the ball is spotted, replay assist will confirm the accuracy of the spot.
According to the release, the full operational process takes 30 seconds, saving about 40 seconds off the manual chain measurement. The chain system will remain on the field “in a secondary capacity,” according to the NFL.
“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, in a statement released Tuesday. “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.”
Hawk-Eye technology is already implemented into major sporting leagues and events around the world, including tennis Grand Slams, the Rugby World Cup and professional soccer matches. Sony first began work with the NFL on their Synchronized Multi-Angle Replay Technology (SMART) system in 2021, used to synchronize replay angles for officials.
The new Hawk-Eye technology will be implemented in all 30 NFL stadiums and in all international venues hosting NFL games, according to the release. The move also coincides with the league’s decision to add an additional 12 fixed cameras along sidelines, end lines and goal lines to bolster the amount of angles for replay officials.
In addition to the Hawk-Eye system, the NFL and Sony have also partnered on a new coach’s sideline headset for coach-to-coach communication, which will also debut during the 2025 season.
(Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images)
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