There was a game today that the referee exchanged the ball with the fan that caught it. The announcer mentioned a chip in it. Don't remember which game it was but got thinking about what was said.


Since 2017 footballs have been chipped, first I've heard about it, need to get out more I guess.. https://sports.yahoo.com/why-t...-ball-153102648.html
QUOTE:
The RFID tracking tech has been in place since 2017, when the NFL first inserted microchips into footballs. The chips, which are also affixed to players’ pads, have unlocked a bottomless vault of data. They’re the source of “Next Gen Stats,” and all sorts of metrics that teams now use to augment player evaluation and performance science.

They weren’t initially designed to aid referees. But by 2021, Pollard said, they were capable of “supporting [the] locationing of the ball, or identifying where a ball goes out of bounds, or potentially crosses a goal line.” Quietly, the NFL toyed with how that “locationing” could support officiating. They began by using it to track where punts flew out of bounds. In tech-savvy circles, there was an expectation that, before long, the RFID tracking would help with ball-spotting.

Those chips are collecting information that will be used to automate the game. Imagine the thrill of watching an AI generated football game. No need for coaches, players, billion dollar stadiums or officials. Just a bank of computers.

Let the games begin.

If you notice, the chain gang is not there anymore…

No more bringing out the chain for 1st down calls.