The Detroit Lions will no longer have to complain to referees about a questionable ball placement, since technology is coming to the rescue.
The NFL and Sony’s Hawk-Eye announced a partnership Tuesday to bring a virtual measuring system to NFL games beginning in the 2025 season. The system will replace the chain gang as the league’s primary line-to-gain measuring system, though NFL games will still feature a chain gang on the sidelines as a backup.
The system will virtually determine the line of scrimmage for all plays and can be used to overturn a referee’s spot. According to Hawk-Eye, the virtual system will save up to 40 seconds compared to measuring ball placement via a chain gang.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent first announced the change to reporters on Feb 26, and the move was confirmed via a statement from the league.
"The NFL and Sony are integrating world-class on-field officiating with state-of-the-art technology to advance football excellence," Vincent said. "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."
The NFL used the virtual system during the 2024 preseason and said it will be installed in all 30 NFL stadiums, as well as the league’s international venues.
Hawk-Eye first gained recognition for its virtual line-calling system installed for pro tennis matches in 2005, and has now become a go-to tech partner across many major professional sports leagues. MLB, for example, uses the company’s tech for its Statcast and automatic ball-strike challenge system, while the NBA uses Hawk-Eye to run the league’s primary tracking system.
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NFL to add Hawk-Eye virtual line-measuring system for 2025 season
