The NFL announced on Tuesday that electronic technology will be used going forward to determine whether a spot is a first down, and many fans expect the change to somehow benefit one team in particular.
Beginning in the 2025 season, Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology will be used by the NFL as the primary method for determining whether the line to gain was reached. Officials will still spot the ball, but the technology will show if the nose of the ball reached the line to gain for a first down.
Previously, the chain gang came out and measured when the ball was too close to the first-down marker to make a call. The chain crew will remain on the field, but in a secondary capacity.
Patrick Mahomes smiling
Jan 8, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology will be used by the NFL as the primary method for measuring the line to gain, beginning with the 2025 season, the league announced.
The chain crew will remain on the field in a secondary capacity.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 1, 2025
Use of the technology should help save time, but a first down will ultimately still be determined by where the official spots the ball. The way many fans see it, that still leaves room for the NFL to rig games in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs.
And somehow the NFL and the refs will still find a way to bone the Raiders and benefit the Chiefs…..
— RealMenWearBlack (@YourTioAl) April 1, 2025
They’ll still rig the technology for the Chiefs
— Tank Blades (@TankBlades) April 1, 2025
All fun and games until the Chiefs hack the system
— Matthew (@compSciMatt) April 1, 2025
Chiefs will still get calls. So instead of winning from bad replays, they'll just spot the opponent shorter.
— CasinoJoe (@CasinoJoe7) April 1, 2025
There has been a consistent narrative in recent years that NFL officials favor the Chiefs. That is because Kansas City has benefitted from numerous favorable calls, including more than one in the playoffs last season. That has been part of a growing trend over the last few years that is backed by the statistics.
Fans and the media have complained so much about the Chiefs receiving favorable treatment that the NFL Referees Association even addressed the conspiracy theory ahead of Super Bowl LIX.
It is hardly a surprise that fans don’t expect anything to change even with technology being used to determine a first down.