No chain, no problem: NFL debuts new virtual measurement system during Hall of Fame Game
One of the most notable things that happened during the Thursday evening renown temple match was the beginning of the new NFL virtual measurement system.
Instead of the traditional chain system, the NFL announced in April that it would now use Sony Hawk-Eye technology as the main means of measuring the line to be won. NFL fans had their first overview of this operation on Thursday while the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions opened the pre-season in Canton, Ohio.
Speed was the main reason why the NFL wanted to go from the chain system to the virtual measurement system. Instead of running a chain in the field to determine the line to be won, the new NFL system should make this information available in a few seconds and potentially eliminate some of the controversial measures that apparently appear on a weekly basis.
Although the chain gang is always a backup option, this technology will regularly be part of the viewing experience during the 2025 season. And depending on League testsIt should be a much faster process. The NFL said in April that the process “takes around 30 seconds” and saves “up to 40 seconds” of a measure of the chain.
“Sony’s Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system allows NFL to measure with precision and effectively the distance between the spotted ball and the line to win. The technology was widely tested last season and will bring a new level of precision and speed to NFL management,” NFL said in a press release in April.
“Sony Hawk-Eye virtual measurement technology will serve as an effective alternative to the field walking process and measure manually if 10 yards have been respected after the official has spotted the ball. The chain crew will remain on the ground in a secondary capacity.”
The system uses six 8K cameras to follow the position of the ball and will be used from the League headquarters in New York in conjunction with the rereading system.
