While we already mentioned this technology back in February, the NFL has announced that Sony’s Hawk-Eye system will be used as the league’s primary method for measuring the line to gain starting in the 2025 NFL season, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. On-field officials will still be responsible for spotting the ball and a chain gang will still exist as a backup measure, but the new technology will be the official measuring tool and the increase in cameras will, in theory, provide more angles for replay reviews. 
The new Hawk-Eye tracking services from Sony were reportedly tested in the 2024 preseason and in the background during the 2024 regular season. The technology does not track the ball to determine if the ball crossed the line. An official is still needed to spot the ball and replay assist will confirm the accuracy of that placement. Once the spot is determined the tracking system will optimally notify officials if a first down was reached instantly, speeding up pace of play by avoiding lengthy measurements.
The setup requires six cameras to be used for the virtual line-to-gain technology, along with 12 boundary-line cameras and 14 Hawk-Eye’s SkeleTRACK cameras that monitor more than two-dozen skeletal points on a player’s body. Using the technology behind the scenes last year, the league reportedly saw a reduction in the time it took for a measurement from 75 seconds on average with the chain gang to 30 seconds on average with the new technology.
In order to accommodate and implement the system, all 30 NFL stadiums, as well as any international stadiums where NFL games will be played, will be equipped with 32 cameras each. With the additional cameras, there, theoretically, should be increased and improved replay angles, as well. The league will continue testing the system this spring during UFL games played in NFL stadiums like Detroit’s Ford Field.
While discussions of the use of this type of technology have been ongoing for years, a line is naturally going to be drawn between this rule and a Josh Allen fourth-down quarterback sneak that was ruled short of the line to gain in the fourth quarter of the Bills’ AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs. Similarly, the NFL passed a rule change three years ago that ensure both teams possession of the ball at least once in overtime of postseason games following a Bills’ divisional-round loss to the Chiefs during the 2021 season, a rule that was also augmented in the recent meetings.
“a line is naturally going to be drawn between this rule and a Josh Allen fourth-down quarterback sneak that was ruled short of the line to gain in the fourth quarter of the Bills’ AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs.”
Not to mention the previous play.
For some reason, no one seems too concerned about the cars driving around with cameras and computers operating them, but there IS concern as to whether they can call balls and strikes and measure first downs…?
Welcome to the 21st century NFL billionaire owners. Glad you finally moved on. Signed, your horse buggy.
What about all of the kids out there who just saw their dreams of being part of an NFL chain gang destroyed?
Sony and the NFL “Crushing kid’s dreams since 2025.”
Looking forward to timeouts being called to determine if the offense is facing a 4th and 18 or 4th and 18.015 🙂