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New York Post
an hour ago
- Sport
- New York Post
NFL debuts new technology at Hall of Fame game — and fans are worried
The chain gang is getting benched — and not everyone is thrilled. The NFL debuted brand new technology Thursday night at the Hall of Fame game between the Chargers and Lions in Canton, Ohio. Instead of relying only on chains, the NFL will use new Hawkeye technology to measure the ball. The technology works by using six 8K cameras to determine where the ball is on the field. 'Sony's Hawk-Eye virtual measurement technology will serve as an efficient alternative to the process of walking chains onto the field and manually measuring whether 10 yards have been met after the official has spotted the ball,' The NFL said. 'The chain crew will remain on the field in a secondary capacity.' The NFL said the chain gang would still be at games as a second line of defense, but referee Shawn Smith told reporters that was not the case for Thursday night's game. 3 The new way the Sony Hawk-eye will decide if a ball has crossed the first down marker. @NFL/X This new system only affects the efficiency of spotting a first down, not the accuracy. The change does not address the issue of referees incorrectly spotting the ball. Many fans are skeptical of the technology. 3 The NFL chain gang could be no more. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images One fan on X said, 'This is going to decide so many games. This is awful.' Another fan would miss the nostalgia of the chain gang, saying, 'I'm gonna miss the chains tbh.' This fan used the opportunity to renew fans' anger over perceived biased treatment for Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes: 'After Review, Mahomes was past the marker. First down' 3 The Chargers celebrate against the Lions during Hall of Fame Game on July 31, 2025. AP The NFL could still reverse course after testing out the technology in the preseason and gauging fan reaction, but for now, the chain gang has been moved to the bench. The Chargers dominated the Lions in the game, winning 34-7 behind a strong performance from former No. 3 pick Trey Lance.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Fans drag Chiefs into debate as NFL's virtual first down system makes debut at Hall of Fame Game
The officially introduced its new virtual measurement system during Thursday night's Hall of Fame Game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions. The preseason opener not only showcased on-field action but also marked the first in-game use of Sony's Hawk-Eye technology—a move the league believes will bring speed, precision, and less controversy to first down calls. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The NFL just tested a virtual first down system , and it might change officiating forever Replacing the traditional chain gang system, the league's decision to transition to a virtual method had been brewing since April. With Hawk-Eye technology now at the forefront, six 8K cameras capture the ball's position with precision, feeding data directly to NFL headquarters in New York, where it integrates with the replay system. The goal? To deliver real-time, high-definition measurement results in a fraction of the time. 'Instead of running a chain onto the field to determine the line to gain,' the league explained, 'the new system should make that information available in a matter of seconds.' Thursday night's game provided fans with their first glimpse of this technology in action. During the second quarter, officials called for the league's first-ever virtual measurement—a historic moment amid the Chargers' dominant 34–7 victory over the Lions. The process, which was tested thoroughly throughout the previous season, reportedly takes about 30 seconds and can save nearly 40 seconds compared to the traditional method. This time-saving element is exactly why the NFL made the leap. Officials no longer have to interrupt the flow of the game by dragging chains across the field. Now, they—and fans inside the stadium—can simply look up at the video board for confirmation, a seamless blend of tech and sport. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Fans think virtual first down system will favor Chiefs Same old story- Fans think everything happens to favor Chiefs. This time too, fans have dragged ' team into this new technology. One X user @AC__32 commented, "Can't wait to see this be used in the Chiefs favor." Another user @_Its_Legacy_ added, "This is going to decide so many games. This is awful." A third user @JoeFortunePokie went on, "Chiefs fans (refs) rubbing their hands together for this one 🙄" NFL's new virtual measurement system (Image via X) Despite the leap forward, the familiar sight of the Chain Gang hasn't disappeared entirely. The sideline crew will still hold the first down marker, serving as a visual guide and backup if needed. But with Hawk-Eye leading the charge, their role is now more ceremonial than central. The NFL's experiment with this technology may have started in silence, but Thursday's live debut officially ushered in a new standard for officiating. If early impressions hold true and the process remains efficient, the league likely won't look back. FAQs: 1. What is the NFL's new virtual measurement system? The NFL's new system uses Sony's Hawk-Eye technology and 8K cameras to measure first downs virtually and accurately. 2. Why did the NFL replace the traditional chain gang method? The league made the switch to improve speed and reduce controversial calls, saving up to 40 seconds per measurement. 3. Will the chain crew still be used during games? Yes, the chain gang will remain on the sidelines as a visual marker and backup if the virtual system is unavailable. Also Read:
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
The NFL's new virtual measurement system did its job in its debut
First look at the NFL's new virtual measurement system(📷 NBC) The NFL finally has a virtual measurement system to gauge close first-down calls, as the new methodology was on full display during Thursday night's Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. As the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers faced off in Canton, Ohio, the new virtual measurement system went to work to assess whether or not Detroit got a first down in the second quarter. The team indeed did gain the necessary yardage, as the new tech showed. This is such a better way for the league to figure out ball placements, even if the NFL chain gangs haven't technically been "replaced." They will remain in a "secondary capacity," per NBC News. "During the 2025 season, the NFL will determine whether teams have made first downs by using Sony's Hawk-Eye system of six 8K cameras placed around every stadium, which will optically track the position of the ball," NBC News' Andrew Greif wrote in April. "The chain gang, the nickname of the team of officials who walk onto the field in critical moments to measure whether the ball has gone 10 yards, will 'remain on the field in a secondary capacity,' the league said. But they will remain background players as the cameras judge the difference between where the ball is spotted and the line to gain." That's pretty cool, and it's great to see the new system successful in the preseason. We'll see how this technology holds up as the 2025 NFL preseason continues into August.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Football set to copy completely different sport's approach to VAR with managers to be given massive new responsibility
England footie legend has been a big supporter of the idea for a long time VAR FETCHED Football set to copy completely different sport's approach to VAR with managers to be given massive new responsibility Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOOTBALL looks set to introduce a cricket and tennis-style challenge system that will completely transform VAR. This new version of VAR allows managers to request reviews on key decisions such as goals, penalties, direct red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Football Video Support (FVS) will see referees be asked to review decisions by managers Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is reportedly introducing an exciting new 'low cost' review system called Football Video Support (FVS) to Spain's third tier this season. Under FVS each team gets two reviews per game, and if a challenge is successful, they keep it for later use — if not, they lose that chance. Managers could order a review by twirling their finger in the air and giving the fourth official a review card showing the type of decision being challenged. The referee then consults a pitch-side monitor to reassess the incident, speeding up the process and reducing the costs and chaos associated with traditional VAR. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS ROARING HOME Lionesses pose on red carpet outside Downing Street after lifting Euros trophy Several major football leagues now utilise semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), including the Premier League, Champions League, Serie A, and LaLiga. Meanwhile, Spain's top women's league, Liga F, could approve the FVS system as soon as this week, potentially becoming the first major league to fully adopt it. This would mark a significant step toward modernising officiating in women's football, with the Women's Super League currently operating without VAR. If FVS proves effective, LaLiga might consider implementing it too, which could see calls for it to be brought to the Prem. 3 The tennis challenge system is called Hawk-Eye, and it's used to review line calls during matches CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Fifa referees chief Pierluigi Collina revealed that the system had already made its debut during last year's Blue Stars/Fifa Youth Cup in Zurich. He told national associations during Fifa's annual congress in Bangkok that the outcome had been 'very, very positive'. Arsenal CONFIRM £63.5million Viktor Gyokeres transfer as striker takes iconic No14 made famous by Thierry Henry There have already been calls for a challenge system in the Premier League, amid the opposition to the VAR system that currently reviews every match-changing incident. One of the biggest fans of an 'appeal system' has been Gary Lineker. Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast last year, Lineker explained: "The only way out of this mess, and I think they should keep offside and goal-line technology. "But I think you either scrap the rest of it or, more realistically, you take it to an appeal system. 3 Gary Lineker has called for a challenge-system for years "You limit the amount of times that VAR can interfere. It can not intervene unless someone appeals. "Maybe one appeal a half, but it stops VAR coming into every possible corner that comes in." Prem chiefs tried to sort some of the problems out last season, when they rolled out semi-automated offside technology for the final seven rounds of top flight games.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Football set to copy completely different sport's approach to VAR with managers to be given massive new responsibility
FOOTBALL looks set to introduce a cricket and tennis-style challenge system that will completely transform VAR. This new version of VAR allows managers to request reviews on key decisions such as goals, penalties, direct red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. 3 Football Video Support (FVS) will see referees be asked to review decisions by managers Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is reportedly introducing an exciting new 'low cost' review system called Football Video Support (FVS) to Spain's third tier this season. Under FVS each team gets two reviews per game, and if a challenge is successful, they keep it for later use — if not, they lose that chance. Managers could order a review by twirling their finger in the air and giving the fourth official a review card showing the type of decision being challenged. The referee then consults a pitch-side monitor to reassess the incident, speeding up the process and reducing the costs and chaos associated with traditional VAR. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS Several major football leagues now utilise semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), including the Premier League, Champions League, Serie A, and LaLiga. Meanwhile, Spain's top women's league, Liga F, could approve the FVS system as soon as this week, potentially becoming the first major league to fully adopt it. This would mark a significant step toward modernising officiating in women's football, with the Women's Super League currently operating without VAR. If FVS proves effective, LaLiga might consider implementing it too, which could see calls for it to be brought to the Prem. Most read in Football 3 The tennis challenge system is called Hawk-Eye, and it's used to review line calls during matches CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Fifa referees chief Pierluigi Collina revealed that the system had already made its debut during last year's Blue Stars/Fifa Youth Cup in Zurich. He told national associations during Fifa's annual congress in Bangkok that the outcome had been 'very, very positive'. Arsenal CONFIRM £63.5million Viktor Gyokeres transfer as striker takes iconic No14 made famous by Thierry Henry There have already been calls for a challenge system in the Premier League, amid the opposition to the VAR system that currently reviews every match-changing incident. One of the biggest fans of an Speaking on the "But I think you either scrap the rest of it or, more realistically, you take it to an appeal system. 3 Gary Lineker has called for a challenge-system for years "You limit the amount of times that VAR can interfere. It can not intervene unless someone appeals. "Maybe one appeal a half, but it stops VAR coming into every possible corner that comes in." Prem chiefs tried to sort some of the problems out last season, when they rolled out semi-automated offside technology for the final seven rounds of top flight games.
