Hip-drop tackles are officially banned from the National Football League. A vote was held on Monday and the Competition Committee were unanimous in their decision.
Currant and former NFL players are absolutely furious with the rule change because they, by and large, believe that there is no such thing as an “illegal” hip-drop tackle. It’s just part of the game.
As a result of the ban, hip-drop tackles will be flagged as a 15-yard penalty. The offense will also be granted an automatic first down. Both of those things (combined) could directly impact a final score!
What is a hip-drop tackle?
The NFL’s Competition Committee defined the illegal tackle as a foul if a player uses the following technique to bring a runner to the ground:
Grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg at or below the knee.
This new ban is intended to prevent potential career-ending injuries in instances where an offensive player’s leg folds under the defensive player. At its core, it is very well-intentioned.
Unfortunately, as previously stated, a hip-drop tackle is often just part of the game. Sometimes, if not in most instances where a “hip-drop” occurs, there is no other way to bring down the ball-carrier.
To help illuminate the rule change, the National Football League played a video of the types of tackles that are banned. It was a reel of plays that were not flagged in the past but will be flagged moving forward.
Here’s the video the NFL just showed in a press conference of what are now banned swivel hip-drop tackles (with NFL executive Jeff Miller speaking in the background). pic.twitter.com/Y4H8h6pQkW
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 25, 2024
Those who are not in agreement with the new rule believe that the video was 55 seconds of normal football plays. Those who agree with the new rule point to Geno Smith’s injury as an example of why the “hip-drop” should be illegal.
Unfortunately, despite what the NFL showed in its video, a “hip-drop” is pretty subjective. There will not be a lot of consistency with how it is called.