Travis Kelce has funny conspiracy theory about NFL’s new first-down technology
The Kelce brothers frequently don’t see eye to eye on topics they discuss on their New Heights podcast, even if they’re only talking about donuts.
So it was no surprise that they had different opinions on the failed Josh Allen quarterback sneak that infuriated Buffalo Bills fans during the AFC Championship Game.
Jason Kelce said on Wednesday’s New Heights podcast that the NFL is implementing Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology for measurements because it looked like Allen got a first down against the Chiefs.
Travis Kelce, the Chiefs tight end, disagreed.
“Nah. I don’t think it looked like it,” he said. “You could only assume that where the ball was in his arm that it may have gotten, but you couldn’t tell exactly.”
Jason Kelce countered: “Well, I think there’s a lot of people that think you could tell.”
Travis: “And I think there are a lot of people that think you couldn’t tell.”
“All I’m saying is I think this rule is here by and large because of that play,” Jason Kelce said. “But I don’t know how this is different, like they still looked at that play on replay and saw where the ball went. So I’m just confused. I guess I don’t really understand how they’re measuring the first downs with the cameras and when they replay them upon challenges. I don’t know.”
Conspiracy theory
Travis Kelce then blew his brother’s mind with a fun conspiracy theory. The NFL is only doing this to give Sony free advertising.
“I think this is just a big Sony endorsement,” he said. “I think it’s just everybody’s going to be talking about Sony Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system, and this is just a big plug for Sony.”
Jason Kelce said: “(Darn), you’re right, aren’t you? Why else would you give it to Sony Hawk-Eye? It’s not a conspiracy. You’re 1,000% right. It’s not even a joke.”
“This,” Travis Kelce said with a smile, “is how conspiracies work.”
But Jason Kelce was adamant that it’s fact not a theory.
“It’s not a conspiracy, because there’s no chance it would be called the Sony Hawk-Eye virtual measuring system,” Jason Kelce said. “The only reason that that is a thing is because Sony paid out the (behind) to have this as a thing in the NFL. How could I not see this coming? It’s so true, because they would have never put Sony in front of it. They don’t say, ‘Hey, all these cameras are brought to you by LG camera system.’ No, this is 100%.”
Travis Kelce loved that he got Jason worked up about the measurement system.
He added: “NFL, sorry if I blew your cover. Also sorry to the chain-gang guys. We’ll miss you.”
The people who are on the chain gang will still be around as a backup to the Hawk-Eye system.
Jason Kelce wasn’t sure how the Hawk-Eye system would be able to tell where the ball was located if it was in a scrum of people. His brother offered an explanation.
“Probably see through people. It’s virtual, so it’s like, we can turn people into video games,” Travis Kelce said. “It’s turning it virtual, Jason. It’s turning it into a video game so that they can determine where the ball actually is, aka, they can see through people’s bodies.”
Jason Kelce’s theory
Jason then shared another reason he believes the NFL is making the change: To protect game officials.
“This is just an out for referees having to make this decision,” he said. “All this means is they now have a camera that is gonna tell you if the ball reached the first down marker, the line, or not, okay? And that way, if the camera and the technology is wrong, you’re not gonna dispute it. Nobody ever disputes the Hawk-Eye thing in tennis. They’re just like, ‘Yep, that was it.’ Or ‘No, that was out. Hawk-Eye said it.’ I don’t know if this thing’s gonna be accurate or not, but how do you refute it?
“Anybody can go up there and watch a replay be like, ‘Oh, that guy isn’t looking at the right thing. I’m looking at the same thing, and that guy’s full of (crap). This looks like a first down.’ But now you’ll be looking at it, and the Hawk-Eye is going to tell you it’s not a first down. Well, guess they triangulated it and Hawk-Eye found (where to put the ball). ... Sony wouldn’t lie to us.”
This story was originally published April 10, 2025 at 10:10 AM.
