NFL Competition Committee bans hip-drop tackles

ORLANDO — The NFL’s competition committee voted unanimously at Monday’s Annual League Meeting to ban the controversial “hip-drop” tackling style that has gained traction across the league in recent years.

A hip-drop tackle involves a tackler wrapping their arms around a ball carrier from behind and leaving their feet to allow their body weight to pull the ball carrier to the ground, trapping the ball carrier’s feet or legs under the tackler’s body in the process. This style of tackling—popularized in rugby—can often lead to knee, ankle or other lower body injuries, as it places a ball carrier’s legs in a compromised position by applying significant weight at an unnatural angle.

The official rule reads:

ARTICLE 18. HIP-DROP TACKLE. It is a foul if a player uses the following technique to bring a runner to the ground:

(a) grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and

(b) 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.

Penalty: For a Hip-Drop Tackle: Loss of 15 yards and an automatic first down.

The movement to ban the technique picked up steam after a Nov. 16 matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens, when Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson took down Ravens tight end Mark Andrews with a hip-drop tackle. Andrews was subsequently placed on injured reserve with a cracked fibula and ankle ligament damage.

Other notable players injured in similar plays include Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, Cowboys running back Tony Pollard and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. While a sizable cadre of fans felt Andrews’ injury was avoidable, the Oklahoma product does not blame Wilson for the injury.

“It kind of was just an unfortunate event,” Andrews said. “I don’t blame the guy. He was just playing hard.”

While the vote was unanimous among the NFL’s Competition Committee, the decision drew criticism from the NFLPA.

“The players oppose any attempt by the NFL to implement a rule prohibiting a ‘swivel hip-drop’ tackle,” said the NFLPA in a statement prior to the decision. “While the NFLPA remains committed to improvements to our game with health and safety in mind, we cannot support a rule change that causes confusion for us as players, for coaches, for officials, and especially, for fans. We call on the NFL, again, to reconsider implementing this rule.”

A number of defenders took to social media Monday to criticize the decision, with many alleging the committee favors offenses in crafting and implementing rule changes.

Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen, a former teammate of Andrews in Baltimore, sees the change as a step in the wrong direction.

Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley listed the decision as one in a series of changes he believes favor NFL offenses.

According to ESPN, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent “strongly implied” the rule will usually be enforced like the “use of helmet” rule via warnings and fines assessed after a game instead of flags during play.

Competition committee chairman Rich McKay told reporters Monday that the rule would be enforced via flags, but only if three specific requirements are met: