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NFL to Launch Sony’s Hawk-Eye Technology for First-Down Measurements in 2025

The system, featuring 8K cameras and real-time ball tracking, promises greater accuracy and efficiency while maintaining chain crews as a backup.

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Referees measure for the first down during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019.

Overview

  • Sony's Hawk-Eye technology will serve as the NFL's primary method for measuring first downs starting with the 2025 season, replacing the traditional chain crew as the main tool.
  • The system uses six 8K cameras to track the ball with precision to less than half an inch and integrates with the league's existing replay system.
  • Hawk-Eye's implementation is expected to save approximately 40 seconds per measurement compared to the chain crew process, enhancing game flow.
  • All 30 NFL stadiums and international venues hosting league games will have the necessary technology installed before the 2025 season.
  • Sony and the NFL will also introduce a new coach-to-coach communication headset during the 2025 season, further modernizing game operations.