The NFL Competition Committee is proposing a rule that would make a hip-drop tackle an automatic first down and a 15-yard penalty.
The hip-drop tackle, which is incredibly difficult to define, is on the chopping block due to its propensity to cause lower-leg injuries. Regardless of how it’s chosen to be defined by the NFL, the result sees a defensive player allowing their full weight to come down on a ball carrier’s lower body/leg.
In the rule proposal, the NFL defines the hip-drop tackle as an instance in which a player on defense grabs a ball carrier with both hands or wraps the ball carrier with both of their arms and proceeds to swivel/drop their hips, causing them to land on the ball carrier and trap their lower leg.
NFL fans think this new rule will give officials more opportunities to impact the game
The main concern shared by many NFL fans is regarding the subjectivity of the hip-drop tackle. It is so similar to regular tackles, that fans think referees will have more options to dictate the outcomes of games.
Helmet-to-helmet tackles are already subjective and often argued and hip-drop tackles will be much harder to discern. NFL fans foresee a future in which the hip-drop tackle is used to keep a drive going, especially given the steep penalty associated with said tackle.
It’s 3rd and 22 in the Super Bowl. Mahomes hands it off to Pacheco. A DL makes the tackle from behind for a 3 yard gain. Chiefs have to punt.
Oh wait. Flag. Hip drop tackle. 15 yards and a first down for Kermit.
Just one more way for refs to rig games. https://t.co/VgQPmwI0O9
— Shane Darrow (@ShaneDarrow) March 20, 2024
No one can even define a hip drop tackle. Defenders can’t nor can anyone else. It’s adding another element that’s a *judgement call* that will be inconsistent by refs. https://t.co/XO4OqjWedc
— Super Tecmo Bo (@randomasamf) March 20, 2024
The Super Bowl will be decided on a ticky tack hip drop tackle. You know the refs will mess it up.
— MSM Is Biased (@animal_lover365) March 20, 2024
Nantz: “And they STOP Kansas City on 3rd and 8.”
Romo: “Wait a minute, Jim. There’s a flag. They got em with the hip drop! Amazing how Mahomes pulled that off. First down Kansas City!” https://t.co/kvRKbiJ9k5
— Drew Garrison (@DrewGarrison) March 20, 2024
If you think helmet contact is subjective, hip drop tackles is gonna be a real doozy https://t.co/fHgAoqqHZ8
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 20, 2024
The NFL Players Association also disapproves of the proposed hip-drop tackle rule, but not for the same reason as fans
The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) came out and publicly stated that they were not on board with the potential ban of the hip-drop tackle. In an article from the Associated Press, they explained that it is too hard to define and would cause confusion for players.
“The players oppose any attempt by the NFL to implement a rule prohibiting a ‘swivel hip-drop’ tackle,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “While the NFLPA remains committed to improvements to our game with health and safety in mind, we cannot support a rule change that causes confusion for us as players, for coaches, for officials and especially, for fans. We call on the NFL, again, to reconsider implementing this rule.”
The NFLPA addressed the idea that it could potentially be safer, but they must fully understand the rules for it to properly work. League executive Jeff Miller said the hip-drop tackle increases injury risk by 25 times the rate of a normal tackle in an article from NFL.com.
“It is an unforgiving behavior and one that we need to try to define and get out of the game,” Miller said at the league meetings. “To quantify it for you, we see an injury more or less every week in the regular season on the hip-drop.”
Some players argued that it was a threat to the integrity of the game, while others said the league should focus more on providing safer fields of play before attacking other parts of the game.
I don’t make a lot of tackles but I’m with my teammates on this one. Let’s work together for safety without sacrificing the integrity of the game. A ban on the hip drop tackle is not the answer. Players need a say in our game. #OurGameOurRule https://t.co/vjdRIWMFm8
— Case Keenum (@casekeenum) March 20, 2024
Competition committee should spend more time working on a single standard field to play on (i.e. Grass), instead of the “hip drop” tackle. Would be more beneficial to the “health and safety” initiative. 🐸☕️
— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) March 21, 2024
The hip-drop ban proposal, along with several other rule proposals, will be presented to owners at a league meeting in late March. 24 out of the 32 league owners will need to approve the rule for it to pass.
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