Kassidy Hill

CHARLOTTE The oft maligned chain gang will be marginally replaced. The NFL approved a new rule on Tuesday at the annual meeting in Florida, which will replace the human chain crew with Hawk-Eye technology to determine the line to gain.

The chain crew will still be on the sideline and used as backup.

Hawk-Eye technology is currently being used in the United Football League, serving as a training ground for how the NFL can implement the process, and was tested in the NFL last season. Tennis and cricket have used the technology for years.

The 8K cameras will be used for all NFL games, including international matches. It will be operated from the NFL's Art McNally GameDay Central Officiating Center (AMGC) in New York and is integrated with the league's existing replay system.

In a press-release by the league, Troy Vincent, executive vice president of football operations at the NFL, said "The NFL and Sony are integrating world-class on-field officiating with state-of-the-art technology to advance football excellence.

"Combining the art of officiating with Sony's trusted Hawk-Eye system is a healthy recipe for success in our commitment to raising the standards of accuracy, consistency and efficiency. Replay technology and data-driven insights from Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations aid us in advancing our efforts toward the future of football."

The league has partnered with Sony and a version of Hawk-Eye technology since 2021. The system's Synchronized Multi-Angle Replay Technology (SMART) is what officials use to sync up to four camera angles in games for review.

With this technology, the league hoping to cut down on human error and subjectivity in calls.