NFL Bans Hip-Drop Tackle Despite NFLPA Objections

The Competition Committee passed the rule change despite opposition from the players.

On Monday, the NFL Competition Committee announced it had passed three new rule changes for the 2024 season. The biggest change is that the “swivel hip-drop” tackling technique (or just hip-drop tackle for short) is now banned. The owners that make up the competition committee unanimously voted to eliminate it and players will now be penalized and/or fined for using the technique next season.

The rule change was made despite objections from the NFL Players Association. Before the committee gathered to vote this week, the NFLPA released a statement condemning it as confusing for everybody involved. From Wednesday of last week:

“The players oppose any attempt by the NFL to implement a rule prohibiting the ‘swivel hip-drop’ tackle. While the NFLPA remains committed to improvements in 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.”

The idea behind the rule change is well-intentioned. Hip-drop tackles, where defenders effectively use their body weight to drag down an opposing player, appear more likely to cause a lower-body injury than a standard tackle attempt. For example, Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews missed six games in 2023 after suffering a sprained ankle caused by a hip-drop tackle.

The NFL seems committed to lessening plays that can cause injuries, but it ought to listen to the people actually playing the game. The players are largely saying this is a bad rule change. J.J. Watt spoke out in the immediate aftermath of the news, suggesting the NFL “fast forward to belts with flags on them” if the league is going to limit tackling to this degree. Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland tweeted, “Breaking News: Tackling Banned.” Between those statements and the NFLPA’s, it’s clear how the people who know what it’s like to be on the field feel about this. If they don’t like it, it’s likely the fans won’t, either.

The reality is, football is a violent game and players are going to get hurt. Attempting to police defenders on how exactly they are tackling while moving at full speed does not seem like a solution anybody will be happy with.

Liam McKeone is an staff writer at The Big Lead.