Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is in favor of a big change coming into effect during the preseason
Since before many of us were born, the NFL has used orange padded sticks and a chain to tell if a play was a first down or short. A lot has changed in the NFL over the years—things that have been a part of the game since its beginning. That's just the way the world […]
Since before many of us were born, the NFL has used orange padded sticks and a chain to tell if a play was a first down or short. A lot has changed in the NFL over the years—things that have been a part of the game since its beginning. That's just the way the world works. But the Kansas City Chiefs are not letting change stop them from playing football and winning.
As we eagerly await the 2024 season, the NFL is preparing to introduce a new kickoff rule. This rule, designed to inject more excitement into returns while prioritizing player safety, has sparked a wave of anticipation. Coaches across the league are voicing their support, heralding a potentially thrilling and safer future for the game.
One other new thing is also being introduced, but only for the preseason. The Chiefs play the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears in the preseason, and in all three of those games, we will see a new technology tried and tested out that should help give a more accurate feel for ball placement after a play is over. In other words, the league is trying to replace those big orange sticks with a chain attached to them very soon.
The NFL will use optical tracking technology, similar to what the UFL uses. Andy Reid isn't opposed to it, either.
"I think it's going to be fine," Andy Reid said on Wednesday. "But, we will just see. I'll be looking at that like the kickoff. So, we will see how it works, and we will kind of go from there. Yeah, I think the coaches, and the officials, too, want to be as accurate as they possibly can, so whatever technology can help them be as accurate as they can, they are open to, as long as it's done the right way, and you can kind of keep the flow of the game rolling; they have been real good with that kind of stuff."
The UFL's technology is called Tru Line Technology. Here is how the UFL explained the technology works:
Bolt6 is installing six calibrated 4K cameras around each stadium. These cameras ensure accurate, real-time ball-spotting capabilities, which are essential for the fast-paced action of UFL games.
We have seen human error occur in games with too much riding on them, often due to bad ball placement. If this technology works, it will change the game and make it much more accurate.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid would not be against the proposed new rule regarding kickoffs
That would change up the game.
