The NFL has decided not to use the Hawk-Eye computer vision system to measure first downs during the 2024 regular season, opting instead to stick with the traditional chain system. This decision follows the league's preseason experiment with the technology, which ultimately proved less effective than anticipated.
Hawk-Eye, a technology widely praised for its accuracy in tennis, was tested during NFL preseason games to determine its viability for spotting first downs. However, the system encountered challenges that led to delays and inaccuracies, particularly during a Lions-Giants preseason game where it took significantly longer to measure a play that wasn’t even close to a first down.
In tennis, Hawk-Eye excels because it can utilise unobstructed camera angles to clearly see whether a ball is in or out of bounds. Football, however, presents a more complex environment. Players often block the cameras' view of the ball, and even when the ball is visible, it's not always clear if the ball carrier's knee was down before crossing the line. Additionally, unlike tennis, where the lines are physically present on the court, the "line to gain" in football is an invisible threshold, making it harder for the technology to accurately determine whether a first down has been achieved.
While the NFL remains open to integrating advanced technology into the game, Hawk-Eye's performance during the preseason indicates that it isn't ready for regular season use just yet. According to Mark Maske of The Washington Post, the league might revisit the technology in 2025, but for now, the tried-and-true chains will continue to be the standard for measuring first downs.