The chain gang is getting benched — and not everyone is thrilled.
The NFL debuted brand new technology Thursday night at the Hall of Fame game between the Chargers and Lions in Canton, Ohio. Instead of relying only on chains, the NFL will use new Hawkeye technology to measure the ball.
The technology works by using six 8K cameras to determine where the ball is on the field.
“Sony’s Hawk-Eye virtual measurement technology will serve as an efficient alternative to the process of walking chains onto the field and manually measuring whether 10 yards have been met after the official has spotted the ball,” The NFL said. “The chain crew will remain on the field in a secondary capacity.”
The NFL said the chain gang would still be at games as a second line of defense, but referee Shawn Smith told reporters that was not the case for Thursday night’s game.
This new system only affects the efficiency of spotting a first down, not the accuracy. The change does not address the issue of referees incorrectly spotting the ball.
Many fans are skeptical of the technology.
One fan on X said, “This is going to decide so many games. This is awful.”
Another fan would miss the nostalgia of the chain gang, saying, “I’m gonna miss the chains tbh.”
This fan used the opportunity to renew fans’ anger over perceived biased treatment for Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes: “After Review, Mahomes was past the marker. First down”
The NFL could still reverse course after testing out the technology in the preseason and gauging fan reaction, but for now, the chain gang has been moved to the bench.
The Chargers dominated the Lions in the game, winning 34-7 behind a strong performance from former No. 3 pick Trey Lance.
