Defensive coaches around the league will have to do their job even more efficiently after the NFL formally voted to make the hip drop tackle illegal and a 15-yard penalty.
Here are the detailed rules for how it will be enforced.
Full language on the new rules. pic.twitter.com/mqi2OK8aQo
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 25, 2024
The NFLPA has been a significant opponent of the rule, and defensive players around the league are starting to react.
NFL defenders will now have to run through the tackle or aim for an even lower target when approaching an offensive player in the open field.
With the move now official, here’s the reaction from players and media.
Darius Slay
I just said this lol idk hell they need to stop the play 😂 https://t.co/EvnGb4sw2z
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) March 25, 2024
Kenny Moore II
what is this league becoming..
— Kenny Moore II (@KennyKennyMoe3) March 25, 2024
Nep
Like how you supposed to tackle Derrick Henry 😂
— Nep🥋 (@yak2solid) March 25, 2024
Darius Slay
It’s about to be a lot of miss tackles 😂
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) March 25, 2024
Patrick Queen
2 hand touch gone be next lmao
— 🦈 (@Patrickqueen_) March 25, 2024
Jonathan Jones
The NFL says there were 230 instances of the swivel hip-drop tackle, or roughly once per game. 15 players missed time due to injury.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 25, 2024
Pro Football Talk
To those who flatly refuse to care about offensive players who get broken ankles or high-ankle sprains from having a defender's weight land on their lower legs, think about what those injuries can do to your own personal fantasy football teams and/or prop bets.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 25, 2024
Cole Jackson
Lol.
Definitely plays in here that I never would have thought were hip drops.
Woof. https://t.co/B8RQuLqDqp
— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) March 25, 2024
Spencer Schultz
Appears they actually used Madubuike in the pocket on Tannehill in their example video. https://t.co/I5MdXgKaIc https://t.co/yY7q5t0ZfI
— Spencer Schultz (@ravens4dummies) March 25, 2024
Bill Colarulo
When a defender can no longer use the “hip drop” tackle to bring a runner to the ground and is forced to hold him up until a teammate comes and lights the runner up, are the refs going to call a personal foul for unnecessary roughness?
— Bill Colarulo (@BillColarulo) March 25, 2024
Pat McAfee
The NFL has banned the "hip drop tackle" in a unanimous decision..
Everybody seems to be pissed and for good reason #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Re90tm4mm4
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 25, 2024
Tom Pelissero
Here’s the video the NFL just showed in a press conference of what are now banned swivel hip-drop tackles (with NFL executive Jeff Miller speaking in the background). pic.twitter.com/Y4H8h6pQkW
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 25, 2024
