Here’s Why The NFL Cannot Simply Put A Chip In The Ball To Determine Measurements

The NFL once again finds itself at the center of a controversy surrounding what many believe was an incorrect spotting of football on a pivotal Buffalo Bills fourth-down attempt against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Bills quarterback Josh Allen appeared to make the line to gain on a quarterback sneak. But referees ruled him short and upheld the call upon review, giving the ball to Kansas City.

The Chiefs went on to win the game, 32-29, and the rest is history. The incident has fans bringing up an age old question: if sports like tennis and soccer can use technology to track the flight of the ball, why can’t football do the same thing in order to spot the ball.

But it’s not that easy. And Sam Schwartzstein, a former Stanford football player and current Prime Video analytics expert on “Thursday Night Football” explained why on Twitter.

Notes on using Optical Tracking for measurements: There is already a chip in the ball in the NFL. It’s in the middle of the ball on the pane (4 leather panes to make up the football) opposite where you inject air.

What you are pointing out here is optical tracking technology.…

— Sam Schwartzstein (@schwartzsteins) January 27, 2025

There Are Several Reasons The NFL Can’t Just Use A Chip In The Ball For Spotting

Let’s start with simple facts. Current NFL footballs do have a chip in the ball. It’s in the center of the ball opposite the air hole. But things like Hawkeye technology, which is used in tennis, require specific parameters.

“There are between 6-12 cameras at an event that can triangulate the position of the ball. This only works if the ball is 75% visible by light to let all the cameras see the ball and track,” Schwartzstein writes.

Additionally, Schwartzstein points out that things line possession, down by contact, and shape of the ball are unique to football. As is forward progress.

All three conditions affect the spotting of the ball and then you’d need a situation where none of the game cameras could be used to properly spot the ball.

“The UFL and the NFL (in preseason) have solved 1 part of the puzzle which is the measurement. But you have to still place the ball based in possession, down, and shape of the ball by the judgment of the official, then measure with cameras, which solves nothing more than just losing the chains coming onto the field,” Schwartzstein continues.

He also states that he has a method that he believes could fix all of this and find more precise measurements, but that it would slow down the game and alter the mechanics of the officials.

Schwartzstein then addresses a patent he created for a new football design, but notes that it could alter the actual play of the game, which is a major concern.

Ultimately, chipping the ball for spots is just not all that feasible right...