The NFL has announced plans to implement its Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system for indicating the line to gain on a series of downs as soon as next season.
According to Fox Sports, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told reporters Wednesday that the change will take place next season.
Among the interesting items from an NFL football ops session with media: the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement for line to gain is slated to replace the chains as the primary measurement system for the regular season in 2025.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 26, 2025
The chain gang will remain on sidelines as a backup. pic.twitter.com/v9exggobVc
Vincent said the chain gangs of old will stick around for backup as needed.
The change means that all measurements for the line of scrimmage will be determined virtually, as opposed to the referees doing so.
The Hawk-Eye technology was used in the NFL preseason in 2024.
Fox Sports, also reported that the NFL is considering matching the regular-season overtime rules with postseason overtime rules (both teams getting a chance to score a touchdown the first time they touch the ball) and that they "need to do something" about onside kicks; an onside kick attempt had to be formally declared and could only be attempted in the fourth quarter with the team trailing last season.
