South Charlotte Today

The NFL has announced that it will adopt Hawk-Eye technology to assist with determining the line to gain during games starting in 2025. This decision was made at the league's annual meeting held in Florida. The new rule will see the traditional human chain crew remain on the sidelines as a backup measure.

Hawk-Eye technology is not new to the world of sports, having been previously utilized in the United Football League as a precursor for how it might be integrated into the NFL. The system, which has been a staple in tennis and cricket, was also tested in the NFL last season.

The implementation of the 8K Hawk-Eye cameras will cover all NFL games, including those held internationally. These will be managed from the NFL's Art McNally GameDay Central Officiating Center in New York and will be seamlessly integrated with the current replay system.

Troy Vincent, the NFL's Executive Vice President of Football Operations, stated in a press release: "The NFL and Sony are integrating world-class on-field officiating with state-of-the-art technology to advance football excellence. Combining the art of officiating with Sony's trusted Hawk-Eye system is a healthy recipe for success in our commitment to raising the standards of accuracy, consistency, and efficiency. Replay technology and data-driven insights from Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations aid us in advancing our efforts toward the future of football."

The NFL has partnered with Sony's Hawk-Eye system since 2021. The technology includes Synchronized Multi-Angle Replay Technology (SMART), which allows officials to review up to four camera angles simultaneously during games.

The league aims to reduce human error and the subjectivity of calls with this advanced technology.