Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jess Root

Owners vote to ban hip-drop tackle

Owners at the annual league meeting in Orlando on Monday passed a trio of rules changes for 2024. One impacts players on the field.

After the competition committee unanimously recommended banning what is called a “hip-drop” tackle, owners agreed and voted to ban that type of tackle in 2024. Such a tackle will result in a 15-yard penalty against the defense and fines for the player.

There are two elements to this sort of tackling technique.

  • The player grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms.
  • The player unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg or legs at or below the knees.

The NFLPA came out publicly against the potential ban, decrying it for the confusion it would cause for players, coaches, officials and fans.

However, the league has wanted to get it out of the game. NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent explained.

“The greatest asset for any athlete is durability and availability,” Vincent said last week. “When you have a play that has a 20-25 times the injury rate, it doesn’t allow you to fulfill your dreams.”

We will see if this becomes a problem for how games are officiated and played.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.