The NFL plans to replace the first-down chains with the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system for the 2025 regular season, the league announced Wednesday, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
The chain crew will stay on the sidelines as backup. The virtual measurement drops decision-making times 55% from an average of 75 seconds to 30 seconds, according to Garafolo, citing an NFL Football Operations presentation.
The Hawk-Eye system is already used by professional sports leagues including the Premier League, MLB, and NBA, and by tennis majors including Wimbledon. Numerous high-speed cameras are placed around the playing area and footage is analyzed frame-by-frame to make close decisions. Those cameras will track players, officials, and the ball.