NFL meeting to ban hip drop tackles.. (Update: Now banned)


None of those tackles would fit the criteria if this rule is passed.

First criteria is grabbing the player with BOTH hands or wrapping BOTH arms around ball carrier. All 3 plays meet this aspect of the rule.

Second the defender must drop hip or lower body. This is where it gets a bit confusing. What’s dropping mean? In all 3 plays, to me, gay’s hips swung horizontal to the ground not “dropped”. I think that doesn’t fit but could see an official ruling it does. This needs better clarification.

Third the defender lands on ball carriers legs below the knee or wraps his legs around ball carriers lower legs. All 3 of those plays clearly and most definitely don’t meet the last criteria. None of those plays would be a penalty.

NFL also stated they believed most cases wouldn’t result in on field flags but fines later in the week owing to it being difficult to recognize a hip drop tackle. And this is my biggest issue with it. If it’s hard to recognize don’t add it. Or make it to where it’s only punishable by fines or suspensions for repeat offenders (3-4 times in the same season). But can’t be flagged during the game. Last thing I want is another penalty that gets called sometimes but not consistently and impacts the outcome of a game.
Agreed, none of those tackles would be a penalty.