The NFL competition committee is recommending a regulation that would prohibit “hip-drop” tackles. In a later period of this month, the proposals will be given to the owners presented and for the rule to be approved, 24 out of 32 votes are required.
Here’s the NFL Competition Committee’s proposal to ban the hip-drop tackle, which has strong opposition from players and the NFLPA.
ARTICLE 18. HIP-DROP TACKLE. It is a foul if a player uses the following technique to bring a runner to the ground:
(a) grabs the runner with both…— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) March 20, 2024
The #NFL Competition Committee is proposing a rule that makes a hip-drop tackle an automatic first down and 15-yard penalty.
NFL owners meet next week in Orlando. pic.twitter.com/lsChWLsYB7
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 20, 2024
The NFL and the competition committee are submitting this language for the dangerous hip-drop tackle. The penalty would be 15 yards. Officials believe they can correctly call it. Some, including the union, have worried about the potential subjectivity of the call pic.twitter.com/PBwAK09iH1
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 20, 2024
The committee has presented the following reason, “ARTICLE 18. HIP-DROP TACKLE. It is a foul if a player uses the following technique to bring a runner to the ground: (a) grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and (b) unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee. Penalty: For a Hip-Drop Tackle: Loss of 15 yards and an automatic first down.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on the hip drop tackle: "We all should work to get that out of the game."
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) December 13, 2023
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants the hip-drop tackle banned. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/WdBkU8DIre
— theScore (@theScore) December 13, 2023
Hip-drop tackles have contributed to many players sustaining injuries and Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, has also mentioned that the technique must be removed from the competition. According to the Associated Press, NFL’s executive Jeff Miller also shared that the technique increases risk of injury by twenty-five times as compared to a standard tackle.
The NFLPA also shared recently, “League members of the NFL Competition Committee have indicated it is considering instituting a new playing rule prohibiting a tackling technique it described as the “hip-drop tackle.” Despite this intent, the NFL also acknowledged that they were having a difficult time defining a “hip-drop tackle.”
Further continuing, “While the players have consistently advocated for health and safety advancements, any prohibition on the “hip-drop tackle” technique is unfair to players and unrealistic to implement. It places defensive players in an impossible position by creating indecision in the mind of any tackling player, puts officials in an unreasonable situation that will result in inconsistent calls on the field, and confuses our fans. We call on the NFL to reconsider implementing a rule prohibiting the “hip drop tackle.”
However, the NFL Players Association has indicated their opposition to the rule change, stating that they do not think the changes could be applied equitably.
