The NFL is finally starting to use technology to measure first downs

If you have ever scrolled through social media on an NFL Sunday, you have probably seen some variation of the following post during a first-down measurement:

“All the technology available to us and we still use two sticks and a chain to measure for a first down.”

In fact, you may have read that from me at least once during that period...

However, those days may be coming to an end. On Wednesday the NFL announced a partnership with Sony, making the company an “official technology partner of the NFL, as well as the new official headphones of the NFL.”

According to the Associated Press, the partnership includes the use of Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology, which will be utilized to measure for first downs. As reported by Rob Maaddi in the AP, this technology will be used during preseason games this year.

While it may not be ready for use in all games until 2025, there is a chance it could be implemented sooner.

“We’re in the installation phase for all of our stadiums, really getting them calibrated and up to date,” said Gary Brantley, the NFL’s senior vice president and chief information officer, to the Associated Press. “We’re just really getting to a place where this system is as accurate as possible and really calibrating across our multiple stadiums. ... We have multiple stadiums with multiple dimensions inside of those stadiums with different age. So we’re really just going through the installation of putting in the infrastructure and making sure these cameras are installed.”

According to the reporting from the Associated Press, Sony’s Hawk-Eye tracking services “adds cameras to stadiums to track players, officials and the ball. The optimal tracking system notifies officials instantly if a first down was gained after the ball is spotted by hand.”

Certainly an improvement over two sticks and a chain.

But now what will we complain about during games?

There is always the catch rule.