The NFL has instituted a significant rule change for the 2024 season by banning the hip drop tackle, a decision prompted by growing concerns regarding player safety. This controversial defensive maneuver has been under scrutiny for several years, leading to the league”s announcement in March that the technique would no longer be permitted.
The hip drop tackle is defined by the NFL as a maneuver in which a defender wraps up a ball carrier and then rotates or swivels his hips, causing him to drop onto the legs of the ball carrier during the tackle. This technique has sparked controversy as incidents of injury associated with it have increased over time. It is essential to note that the league”s ban specifically targets the “swivel” variant of the hip drop tackle, which is not as frequently employed as the standard technique.
According to NFL competition committee chairman Rick McKay, the new rule does not outlaw the hip drop tackle entirely; rather, it focuses on the actions where a defender rotates or swivels the hips of the ball carrier. Officials will assess two primary factors when determining if a penalty should be assessed: whether the defender grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms, and whether he unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips, thus landing on and trapping the runner”s legs at or below the knee.
During a press conference in March, the league showcased examples of the now-banned swivel hip drop tackles, with NFL executive Jeff Miller elaborating on the reasons behind the ban. A unanimous vote from the league”s 32 team owners confirmed this decision, making it clear that any violation of this rule would result in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down for the offense.
The primary motivation for banning the hip drop tackle lies in its association with injuries. Miller previously noted that 15 players were sidelined during the previous season due to injuries resulting from this tackle style. The NFL conducted an analysis of over 20,000 tackles from the 2022 and 2023 seasons, concluding that the hip drop tackle leads to lower extremity injuries at a rate 20 times higher than other tackling methods.
A recent incident highlighting the dangers of this technique involved Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. In November 2023, a hip drop tackle by Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson resulted in Andrews sustaining injuries that required surgery. Andrews expressed his support for the ban, stating that eliminating this tackle style could help reduce the frequency of severe injuries.
Despite the ban, the decision has faced backlash from various players, particularly defenders who rely on this technique. The NFL Players Association issued a statement indicating that the change might create confusion among players, coaches, officials, and fans.
Teams have been adapting to the new regulations since the announcement, but there has already been debate regarding what constitutes a hip drop tackle. Some officials have missed calls related to this tackle style in the ongoing season, leading to frustration among players who feel they were subjected to illegal tackles.
In a notable situation, Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu received a one-game suspension after accumulating three hip drop tackles this season, marking the first suspension under the new rule.
