Canal Street Chronicles
The traditional first-down measurement system will become a backup as a new era begins in 2025.
On Tuesday, the NFL announced it will adopt Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology to electronically measure all first downs throughout the 2025 season, keeping the traditional chain gang on the sidelines as a backup.
After years of rumblings about this change, the league tested the system during the 2024 preseason and ran it behind the scenes during regular season games, ultimately opting to make it the primary method of measurement. The optical tracking technology is expected to provide a more accurate and modern way to determine the line to gain.
