NFL Set to Use Hawk-Eye Virtual Measurement Instead of Chains for 2025 Season

Measurements are reportedly going to look a bit different during the 2025 NFL season.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday that the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement for line to gain will be the primary way the league measures to see if there was a first down on a given play that is close enough to require assistance.

While the system will replace the traditional chain measurement, the chains will still be on the sidelines in case a backup plan is needed.

Ultimately, this isn't the drastic type of change some might have been hoping for when it comes to spotting the ball and determining whether an offense picked up a first down, but it is expected to save time.

Garafolo noted it took an average of 75 seconds to measure a play with chains compared to an average of 30 seconds for the virtual measurement system during testing. If nothing else, it will help keep games moving without extended delays.

However, it won't help prevent a situation like the controversial spotting of the football during the AFC Championship Game.

Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen appeared to pick up a critical first down on a quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter, but the officials ruled him short. Replay review could not provide definitive evidence that he got the first down, so the call on the field remained.

The Kansas City Chiefs went on to win the game, which led to plenty of anger from Bills fans who were not happy with the way the ball was spotted.

While something like a microchip in the football might help avoid a situation where officials who may or may not be in ideal position to see a play are trusted to spot the ball in real time, that is not what this Hawk-Eye system will do.

Instead, it will theoretically provide more accuracy and efficiency when it comes to measuring whether the officials' spot was enough for a first down.

The NFL tested such a system for measuring first downs ahead of the 2024 campaign during the preseason, but Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk noted it decided against using it for regular-season games.

It seems like the league now trusts the technology available enough to start using it for the 2025 campaign.