The NFL’s Decision For First Down Rule Isn’t Entirely Surprising

The league had previously hinted that the chain markers would remain for the 2024 campaign, as senior vice president and chief information officer Gary Brantley indicated that the new system was unlikely to launch this year.

“We’re in the installation phase for all of our stadiums, really getting them calibrated and up to date,” Brantley told 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.”

The technology mentioned above would make decisions much faster as there would be no wait for referees to carry the chains onto the field.

“We’re reducing a significant amount of time, 40 seconds for each time of use that basically is making the game that much more impactful,” Sony president and chief operations officer Neal Manowitz explained. “And then also the system is accurate down to less than half an inch, which is incredibly, incredibly accurate.”

It sounds like Hawk-Eye is definitely coming. However, fans will need to wait at least one more season.

Also Read: VIDEO: Shocking New Footage Shows How Kansas City Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker Has Officially “Broken” The NFL’s New Kickoff Rules