Digital conversion: NFL to measure first downs electronically. Here’s how it actually works.

The NFL Competition Committee released information on the plan to switch the first-down measurements to the HawkEye system that is used for its replay reviews for the 2025 season. Various systems have been explored for many years, but an earnest trial was underway during the 2024 preseason and continued in the background for select games in the regular season.

The chain crews on the sideline are not out of a job. They will still provide a visual reference on the sideline and will be called on for a measurement if there is a technical failure. But the technology that was implemented in 1906 will no longer be official.

In reality the HawkEye system — used in tennis and spring league football — will not be used very often at all. NFL statistics show that there are an average of 12 measurements conducted each week, less than one per game. Part of the reason for that is ball-spotting mechanics make most measurements unnecessary.

In all levels, but particularly in the NFL in the replay era, any first down will be spotted on the nearest yard line. If the ball is 6 inches short of the 20-yard line, the umpire will place the nose of the ball on the edge of the 20. If, during the series, the ball is just touching the 30-yard line, it is a first down and no measurement. When the line to gain is between 5-yard stripes and the dead-ball spot is in a side zone away from the hashmarks, then measurements may be necessary.

Under this mechanic, the inches do not matter nearly all of the time. They will make exceptions for a ball on the opponents’ 10½, for instance, because that should not be a goal-to-go situation.

First down measurements that are more accurate than ever

Take a look at the first down technology that will be featured this season in the USFL pic.twitter.com/fLT2boDOVd

— USFL (@USFL) April 9, 2022

The new technology will not spot the ball for officials, so the failed 4th down conversion in the AFC Championship Game would not have a potentially different outcome under the new system. We discussed how that ball was spotted in detail on the 1st & 25 podcast, but the HawkEye system will only return the first-down determination after the ball has been spotted. This will continue to be judged on the field because of elements such as forward progress and whether a player is down by contact. Although it is an add-on to the replay equipment, it will not be used in determining the proper spot during the visual replay review. (It may reevaluate the spot once the replay review is completed.)

The Competition Committee used some of last season’s trial of the digital measurement to determine that a measurement stoppage would reduce from 75 seconds to 30 seconds. That 45 seconds may not seem like much, but television network time is very valuable.

As the Pretenders once told us, “the powers that be that force us to live like we do” will not force us any more to have the chain gang measure the first down.

Image: Indianapolis Colts photo