NFL fans divided over rule change that will end iconic football tradition

By JAKE NISSE

The NFL has announced a major officiating change set to debut in the 2025 season, and fans are divided over the move.

The league has always used its ‘chain-gang’ to measure first downs, with the signature orange markers trotted onto the field by officials to determine close spots.

But the league announced on Tuesday that it will use camera-based technology from Sony’s Hawk-Eye as the primary method to make first down calls – relegating the ‘chain-gang’ to backups.

The low-technology nature of the ‘chain-gang’ was a consistent source of controversy among fans during tight first down spots, most recently when Josh Allen and the Bills were deemed to have not gotten enough on a crucial fourth down ‘tush-push’ against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

Hawk-Eye, which uses cameras around the stadium to track the ball, is notably used for goal-line technology in the Premier League and other soccer leagues, for line calls in major tennis tournaments and also in other sports.

And fans had a range of reactions to the technology being implemented in the NFL.  

The ‘chain-gang’ has always been used in the NFL to measure first downs

Josh Allen and the Bills were controversially denied a first down vs. the Chiefs in the playoffs

‘Unpopular opinion: The traditional chain crew is better,’ one said on X.

‘This should have happened a long time ago, I’ve seen this in tennis for years and it’s been accurate,’ another added.

A third said, ‘Measuring first downs isn’t the problem. The problem is spotting the football. Refs are terrible at it.

‘Another rule change after the Bills got screwed in the first place. Glad we can help the league for others,’ a Bills fan said, referencing the league previously changing its postseason overtime rules.

And a fifth added, ‘Im fine with the tech so long as the chain gang gets to stay on the field purely for the vibe of the game.’

The league said that the new technology was tested last season and will improve both the accuracy and speed of first-down calls.

Six 8K cameras will be deployed in all 30 NFL stadiums (and international host stadiums), and the league said the process will take around 30 seconds – up to 40 seconds less than what chain-measuring currently takes.

‘The NFL and Sony are integrating world-class on-field officiating with state-of-the-art technology to advance football excellence,’ the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent, said.

‘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.’

This rule change comes amid several others during the week of the NFL owners’ meetings, including moving touchbacks up to the 35-yard-line and allowing both teams to possess the ball during regular season overtimes.

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NFL fans divided over rule change that will end iconic football tradition

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