Hip-Drop Tackle Banned; What Sanction Will It Have As Of 2024?
In part to the high number of injuries it causes, this play is among the most contentious.
To further increase player safety, the National Football League (NFL) has taken additional action. The NFL Competition Committee overwhelmingly decided this morning to outlaw hip-drop tackle and give infraction teams’ severe penalties.
The news was first reported by NFL Network insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. The Players Association (NFLPA) had voiced opposition to the ban, arguing that it interferes with defenders’ ability to do their jobs, while the Competition Committee had targeted this play.
The NFL currently regulates play calling, as stated in Article 18:
“A player who attempts to stop a runner by doing one of the following is guilty of a foul: (a) grabbing the runner with both hands or wrapping the runner with both arms; or (b) unweighting himself by swiveling, dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.”
According to the rule, the team that violates the rule shall automatically receive a first down and be penalized 15 yards. The league hopes to lower the large number of injuries brought on by this kind of hip-drop tackle by implementing these restrictions.
The advocates and opponents of hip-drop tackle
In an interview conducted last week, NFL Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent stated that this play needed to be prohibited. “Any athlete’s biggest asset is their availability and durability. Vincent promised that having a play with an injury rate that is 20–25 times higher prevents you from realizing your potential.”
On the other hand, the NFLPA stated unequivocally that “the players resist any move by the NFL to implement a rule forbidding a ‘swivel hip-drop’ tackle. It reaffirmed that it was dedicated to the health of its players and the development of the game, but it declared that it would not back this new regulation.”
The union issued a statement saying, “We as players, coaches, officials, and most importantly, spectators, cannot support a rule change that creates uncertainty in our minds.” “We implore the NFL to reevaluate enforcing this rule.”
Regarding this, the Competition Committee President Rich McKay replied, “Do we have a problem? Yes, was the response? It will be difficult to call this one on the field. You must view every aspect of it. In order to address discipline during the week, we would like to formalize it as a regulation.”
Modifications to the challenge rule of hip-drop tackle
A change to the regulation regarding challenges to referee decisions was also accepted by the Competition Committee. A team has to win the first two challenges in order to advance to the third, as of last season. With the new regulations, the team will need to win just one of its two regulatory challenges in order to advance to the next round.
Even while the Committee has not yet cast a vote on the contentious kickoff rule amendment, it is still possible that they may on Tuesday. It is unclear if they will do so during this meeting.
