In response to continued disappointment with officiating miscues in the NFL, Commissioner Roger Goodell said that the league is looking into increased use of technology. In an interview last week with SiriusXM NFL Radio, Goodell mentioned that “You all as broadcasters or the fans in general get to see things, and we have to make sure our officials have access to that kind of technology in a way that not overly disruptive to our game.” Commissioner Goodell also mentioned in the interview that the increased use of technology in officiating could be seen as soon as this year’s regular season and playoffs.
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One of the reasons why Goodell wants this new technology in place to help NFL Officials is because, “The technology is so extraordinary and we’re seeing things we never saw before. We have to understand that and recognize that.” There may be no better recent example of the coming-of-age of new referee review technology than the event that occurred last Monday night in Miami. The prime time Monday Night Football game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants showcased to the football world the power of new technology:
This highlight-reel grab by superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr. appears by both traditional instant replay review angles to not be a catch. It is extremely close, but in real-time, the ruling on the field (which was an incomplete pass), was unlikely to be overruled.
However, with the dawn of new review technology, the audience witnessed the prime-time debut of the pylon cam. We covered the testing of NFL pylon cameras just a few months ago in an online article. From October to December, the pylon cam was tested, put into practice, and helped overturn a crucial referee decision.
With Beckham’s play, New York tied the game on the play and went on to win the game by just a touchdown.
It appears that Goodell’s vision for a more tech-friendly league, where referees are given all the tools available to help make decisions, is finally coming to reality soon. The key with all the technology is how to incorporate every aspect of it into the review process, without slowing down the games. Sometimes, to the detriment of the viewer, plays are reviewed for up to ten minutes, which can ruin the viewing experience for some fans. This is also evident now that more plays than ever are being reviewed. Despite these challenges, Goodell is absolutely correct that, “ We need to have that technology there and access to help them avoid those critical errors that can be decisive in a game.”
The Monday Night Football game showcased how technology can help avoid critical errors that can affect the outcome of the game. All signs point to the NFL adopting more tech to help get as many calls right as possible. That’s great news for all who love the game.