The NFL says that the human element of spotting the ball during plays cannot and will not be replaced, despite advances in technology and rising controversies over calls.

The NFL is looking to integrate new technology to measure line-to-gain next season, but officials will still play a crucial role in spotting the football. One key issue that has sparked recent debate is the question of forward progress—an area where technology is not yet seen as a viable solution.

This became especially apparent after a controversial play in the AFC Championship Game when Josh Allen was stopped short on a fourth-and-1 run. The play, which was reviewed and upheld, gave Kansas City the ball back with a 22-21 lead, and they went on to win 32-29.

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In discussing these technology efforts, NFL executive Kimberly Fields was clear about the limitations of the new systems.

“What this technology cannot do is take the place of the human element in determining where forward progress ends,” Fields told AP News. “There will always be a human official spotting the ball. Once the ball is spotted, then the line-to-gain technology actually does the measurement itself. So I think it’s probably been a point of confusion around what the technology can and can’t do. There will always be a human element because of the forward progress conversation.”

The technology under consideration—specifically Sony’s Hawk-Eye tracking system—would notify officials instantly when a first down is gained, but only after the ball is manually spotted.

This system could replace the traditional chain gang used to measure for first downs, though the chain method would remain available as a backup.

Hawk-Eye’s potential to cut down measurement time from 75 seconds to just 35 seconds could improve game flow, but it won’t replace the need for human judgment when it comes to forward progress.

The NFL has used Zebra microchips in football since 2017 for its Next Gen Stats platform, collecting valuable data on player and team performance.

However, these chips are not yet precise enough for officiating purposes, such as determining where a player was tackled or whether they were down by contact.

The league has also installed boundary line cameras in all 30 stadiums to assist with replay reviews, although these cameras are currently limited to scoring plays, turnovers, and situations inside the final two minutes of a game.

Any expansion of their role, including for coaches’ challenges, would need to be approved by the Competition Committee.

In addition to these technologies, the NFL has experimented with giving back judges smartwatches to help speed up decisions related to the play clock.

Fields emphasized that the goal of introducing technology is to make the game more efficient and accurate.

“We want to make the game efficient and more accurate. The things that we do around technology, if it’s not going to make the process better, if it’s not going to assist our officials, then we shouldn’t be doing it. Everything that we do is going through a rigorous testing process to make sure we are making things easier and more efficient.”

Despite these efforts to modernize, the NFL has faced criticism for its cautious approach to technology, particularly when it comes to determining forward progress.

While the league has embraced technology in other aspects of officiating, it remains firm in its belief that human judgment is irreplaceable when it comes to the most critical calls on the field.

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