NFL plans to replace chain gangs with Hawk-Eye technology

Chain gangs will still adorn NFL sidelines in 2025, but they’ll back up technology for the first time.

League officials announced Tuesday that the Hawk-Eye technology used in tennis would take over as the primary way to measure the distance between the first-down marker and where the ball is spotted.

“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,” Troy Vincent, executive vice president of football operations at the NFL, said in a statement. “Replay technology and data-driven insights from Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations aid us in advancing our efforts toward the future of football.”

The NFL said the technology would take 30 seconds to calculate the line to gain, a 40-second improvement from the old system.

The Hawk-Eye system will be installed in all 30 NFL stadiums and the host venues for international games. Six high-tech cameras will track the ball, with video feeds sent to the NFL officiating center in New York City, where the system will be combined with the league’s instant replay technology.

“We have always been passionate about working with the leading global sports to pioneer change,” said Rufus Hack, CEO of Hawk-Eye. “Our ultimate ambition is to make sports fairer, safer and more engaging.”