There have been discussions for a long time. Now the ban on the hip-drop tackle has finally been made official. There is immediate criticism of this

Hip-drop tackles are banned in the NFL from the new season. As the league announced, this was decided in a vote by the owners of the 32 franchises. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the competition committee came to a unanimous decision.

In future, a hip-drop tackle, in which a player wraps his arms around his opponent and wrestles him to the ground using his hips or lower body and thus his own weight, will be punished with a 15-yard penalty. The league also has the option of fining players.

According to the NFL, the injury rate for the hip-drop tackle is around 20 to 25 times higher than for other tackles, which is why the league campaigned for a ban.

As NFL reporter Mike Garafolo writes, last season the NFL counted 230 swivel hip-drop tackles, which are still a difference-maker from the hip-drop tackle, with 15 players injured so severely that they were out longer.

The players’ union NFLPA itself had already voiced criticism of a possible ban in recent days and weeks, calling it “a rule change that will cause confusion for players, coaches and others”.

Shortly after the announcement was made, a number of NFL personalities voiced their disapproval of the new policy. Texans legend J.J. Watt wrote on “X” that they might as well fast-forward and just play flag football.

Jevon Holland, safety for the Miami Dolphins, went one step further and tweeted: “Breaking news: tackles are banned. “

Rule change in the NFL: Teams get a third challenge

In addition to the ban on hip-drop tackles, the league also decided on two other rule changes. If a team is successful with one of its two challenges, it will be given a third opportunity. Previously, this was only the case if a team was successful in both challenges. However, this is still only possible if the team still has at least one timeout available

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

In addition, from the coming season, “serious fouls” committed by the offense can also be imposed before the change of possession if both teams foul.

The proposal was made because fouls committed by the offense in these situations were being ignored. The committee stated that it wanted “consistency with an effort to penalize all serious fouls”.

In future, the replay assistant will also be allowed to correct incorrect calls for roughing the passer or intentional grounding. However, the error must be clearly visible