NFL Won't Use Automatic First Down Technology In 2024

Getty Image / Al Bello

The NFL is the most valuable sports league in the world, with a collective franchise worth of well over $150 billion. But, in terms of technology, it is woefully behind in many areas.

As other major sports leagues look to take human error out of the equation whenever possible, the NFL continues to use chain gangs to imprecisely measure all-important first downs.

It’s truly comical when you consider the incredible technology used in soccer around the world to measure the dynamic offside line precisely. In just a few seconds, they can match up moving players and the exact moment a ball is kicked to determine whether it’s offside or onside. But, the NFL needs to use metal chains to determine first downs.

But, it looked like that could change for this upcoming season. The NFL experimented with a system this preseason that was created by the makers of Hawk-Eye, the software used to calls the lines in professional tennis. The system would’ve replaced the chain gang.

The new laser technology to replace the chains coming out on the field to measure first downs. pic.twitter.com/cGCzb6AMWI

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) August 9, 2024

But, the NFL has decided to not use it this season.

“The NFL will not use its electronic system to measure first downs during the regular season this year, source says, after continuing to test it during the preseason. It could be used in the regular season as soon as 2025 at the earliest,” Washington Post NFL reporter Mark Maske said on Twitter late Monday night.

Quite frankly, this is embarrassing for the NFL. They have the technology to make the game better and they’re simply not doing it.

I’m not sure what the holdup is here, but this is something that should be in place for this upcoming season. If any business as big as the NFL had the opportunity to automate something, they would do it.

NFL Refuses To Get With The Times, Won’t Use Automatic First Down Technology