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When the NFL announced it was replacing the traditional chain gang with Sony's Hawk-Eye technology for measuring first downs, it sounded like a logical leap into the future. But leave it to Travis and Jason Kelce to call out what others were thinking-and say it out loud, uncensored.
On a recent episode of their hit podcast New Heights, the brothers didn't just question the tech-they questioned the branding. While fans have long joked about the NFL being scripted, the Kelces are suggesting that the script may now come with a Sony logo.
"I think it's just a big Sony endorsement,"Travis said bluntly. "Everybody's gonna be talking about the Sony Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system... this is just a big plug for Sony."
Jason didn't hold back either. In fact, he took it even further.
It's not a conspiracy - It's capitalism
"You're 1000 percent right,"Jason said."There's no fing way it would be called the Sony Hawk-Eye system unless Sony paid out the ass." His main gripe isn't with the use of technology itself-it's with how the league is marketing it."Just say it's a virtual measuring system. Don't fing sell me Sony."
For context, Hawk-Eye tech is nothing new to sports. It's been used in tennis, soccer, and even cricket to make razor-thin calls with precision. But this is the first time the NFL is openly attaching a brand name to an in-game decision-making system. That's what makes the Kelces raise their eyebrows.
Jason, who recently retired from the NFL, said he doesn't mind a little human error in football. "That's part of what makes the game great," he said. "But this just feels like a business deal more than a gameplay decision."
The controversy is still simmering from a Bills-Chiefs matchup last season where two Josh Allen runs were controversially ruled short of the first down-despite replays suggesting otherwise. The timing of this technology rollout, right after that drama, hasn't gone unnoticed by fans.
And while the move may eventually cut down on those high-stakes officiating errors, the Kelces' take reflects a growing skepticism about how corporate money shapes the game behind the scenes. As for Travis? He ended the rant with a smirk: "Sorry, NFL, didn't mean to blow your cover."