Tag: hip-drop tackle

Wisconsin football legend reacts to NFL ban of hip-drop tackle

Wisconsin football legend reacts to NFL ban of hip-drop tackle

The NFL announced Monday that they have banned the hip-drop tackle after the motion passed unanimously with the Competition Committee. Former Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman JJ Watt, isn’t a huge fan of the decision.

Throughout the years, the NFL has continued to emphasize players safety and Monday’s decision was another opportunity for them to feel like they’re doing just that.

On the flip side, there’s a perception that the rule changes that they continue to implement on the behalf safety, skew towards the offensive athletes. Over time, it’s become illegal to hit an offensive player above the head and neck (understandable), hitting a player with the crown of your helmet is outlawed (also understandable), landing on a quarterback with your full body weight isn’t allowed (often hard to gage) and even making contact with a QB below the knees will lead to a flag (often ticky-tack).

Watt’s frustrations on the hip-drop tackle ban will likely be echoed throughout the league and it’ll be interesting to see how the new rule is officiated in 2024.

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NFL’s Competition Committee recommends banning hip-drop tackle

The NFL’s Competition Committee recommends banning the hip-drop tackle and making it a 15-yard penalty.

Each year, the NFL Competition Committee discusses potential changes to the game. Sometimes things end up working out for the best, while other changes flop, most notably making pass interference reviewable.

This year, the biggest focus is on the hip-drop tackle. The committee has recommended that it be banned and be penalized as a 15-yard personal foul.

A hip-drop tackle is defined by the committee as such:

  • Grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and
  • 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.

The reason the NFL wants this out of the game is the injuries suffered during hip-drop tackles last season. One of the more notable ones was Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews suffering an ankle injury in Week 11 and not playing again until the AFC Championship Game over two months later.

Will this be a successful rule change? It certainly would make playing defense that much harder. However, if it does help eliminate injuries, it won’t be called a failure.

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