NFL players blast league decision to ban hip-drop tackle

The NFL’s decision to move forward with a ban on the hip-drop tackle was never going to be popular with defenders in the league, but even players on offense are sounding off on the league’s vote on Monday. Players across the NFL, and some prominent former players, took to social media after news broke of the new penalty, which will result in a loss of 15 yards and an automatic first down.

“Just fast forward to the belts with flags on them…,” former defensive player of the year J.J. Watt tweeted.

“Breaking news: Tackling Banned,” Dolphins safety Jevon Holland wrote.

“As a offensive player this is wild lol,” former running back journeyman Mike Davis posted.

The reaction from players and former players is no surprise. The NFLPA wrote in no uncertain terms that the players would not approve of the hip-drop tackle ban, if they were the ones voting:

“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.”

Atlanta Falcons CEO and chairman of the competition committee Rich McKay spoke to reporters about why the league is moving forward with the ban. He said there was a problem that needed to be addressed, but admitted that enforcement will be difficult.

“Do we have a problem? The answer was yes,” McKay said. “This will be a hard one to call on the field, you have to see every element of it. We want to make it a rule so we can deal on the discipline during the week.”

NFL bans hip-drop tackle following spate of injuries

By enacting the competition committee’s proposal, a hip-drop tackle penalty will result in a loss of 15 yards and an automatic first down for the opposing team. Here is the NFL Competition Committee’s new amendment to Rule 12, Section 2 of the NFL rule book:

“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.”

Rich McKay on hip-drop tackle that owners unanimously banned today: “This will be a hard one to call on the field. …This is the swivel hip drop tackle. This is not every hip drop tackle.” Jeff Miller then narrated video examples, which include two Cowboys-involved plays. pic.twitter.com/VeFklZc7vO

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 25, 2024

There are a number of examples of injuries occurring on hip-drop tackles within the last two seasons. Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson‘s season ended in Week 13 this year after he suffered a high-ankle sprain as a result of the hit by Chargers defender Tuli Tuipulotu. Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews also suffered a season-ending lower leg injury on an apparent hip-drop tackle on Thursday Night Football.