{"id":29389,"date":"2025-02-28T02:40:41","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T02:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=29389"},"modified":"2025-02-28T02:40:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T02:40:41","slug":"starting-next-season-the-nfl-is-expected-to-replace-first-down-chains-with-the-hawk-eye-virtual-measurement-system-nfl-executive-vice-president-of-football-operations-troy-vincent-told-reporters-wed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=29389","title":{"rendered":"Starting next season, the NFL is expected to replace first down chains with the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told reporters Wednesday ."},"content":{"rendered":"

The chain gang has been an essential part of the\u00a0NFL\u00a0game for as long as one can remember, but it’s undergoing a change in 2025.<\/p>\n

Beginning next season, the NFL is expected to replace the chains \u2014 which are used to indicate the line to gain on a series of downs \u2014 with the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told reporters Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The chain gang will stick around as needed, NFL Network added.<\/p>\n

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This would mean that all measurements for the line of scrimmage would be determined virtually, as opposed to by a referee,\u00a0though the official will still place the ball down on the field. The technology was used during the 2024 NFL preseason.<\/p>\n

For example, said technology could overturn a call on the field regarding whether a ball-carrier reached the line to gain for a first down. It’s not the same as chip technology, but it could, in theory, have helped with\u00a0controversial spots like in the most recent AFC Championship Game.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Vincent said that the league is considering “expanded replay assist” for flags that are thrown in live time.<\/p>\n

Vincent also said that the NFL is examining potentially matching the regular-season overtime rules with postseason overtime rules (both teams getting a chance to score a touchdown the first time they touch the ball) and that they “need to do something” about onside kicks; an onside kick attempt had to be formally declared and could only be attempted in the fourth quarter with the team trailing last season.<\/p>\n

The NFL Scouting Combine takes place this week in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The chain gang has been an essential part of the\u00a0NFL\u00a0game for as long as one can remember, but it’s undergoing a change in 2025. Beginning next season,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":29390,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nStarting next season, the NFL is expected to replace first down chains with the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told reporters Wednesday . - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=29389\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Starting next season, the NFL is expected to replace first down chains with the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told reporters Wednesday . - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The chain gang has been an essential part of the\u00a0NFL\u00a0game for as long as one can remember, but it’s undergoing a change in 2025. 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