NFL bans hip-drop tackle despite NFLPA's objections
ORLANDO, Fla. — The NFL has officially banned the hip-drop tackle after a vote at the spring owners meetings.
A source confirmed the news to Yahoo Sports shortly before the announcement.
Momentum has been building for months now to ban the hip-drop tackle, which league competition committee executive vice president Jeff Miller said “results in about a 25 times rate of injury as a typical tackle.”
Here’s the language, to reiterate: pic.twitter.com/5eBQLizcjw
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) March 25, 2024
Though there's been scrutiny over what exactly constitutes a hip-drop tackle, competition committee chairman Rich McKay played a video compilation of examples during media availability Monday:
Rich McKay says hip-drop ban passed unanimously. Interesting always, & especially after PA voiced concern over excess fining.
Ban is specifically for “swivel” version of hip-drop, not all versions, which will be hard to officiate consistently. Here are examples voters saw today: pic.twitter.com/XYWSxpQWe4— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) March 25, 2024
Prominent on-field incidents that have prompted discussions also include Patrick Mahomes' injury against the Jaguars in the divisional round two seasons ago and the tackle that injured Ravens tight end Mark Andrews this past November.
How exactly, though, will the NFL train officials to enforce the new rule? By looking for three elements specifically.
I asked competition committee chair Rich McKay how they’ll train officials on penalty they admit is hard to discern.
The message: This is a penalty. Call it. But call it only if you see the defender:
1) Grab opponent and get control
2) Swivel him
3) Unweight him
Need all 3. pic.twitter.com/yuaG5G587n— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) March 25, 2024
The NFLPA released a statement ahead of the owners meetings against the proposal of banning it.
"We cannot support a rule change that causes confusion for us as players, for coaches, for officials and especially, for fans," the statement read.
Dolphins safety Jevon Holland and Vikings safety Josh Metellus were among the first players to publicly weigh in on the rule change Monday, with J.J. Watt and Kenyan Drake joining later.
