The National Football League (NFL) has recently outlawed the hip-drop tackle, a move that has stirred debate among players and fans alike. This controversial technique, already responsible for sidelining some prominent players, is now deemed illegal due to safety concerns. NFL owners approved the ban, aiming to mitigate player injuries, but the decision has been met with pushback from players and their union who argue the definition is vague and could lead to subjective penalties during games. Austin Ekeler of the Washington Commanders, a vice president within the NFL Players Association leadership, voiced concerns about the rule potentially compromising the game’s quality due to the anticipated difficulty in officiating it consistently.
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Defining the Hip Drop Tackle: Mechanics and Risks
So, what exactly constitutes a hip-drop tackle? In essence, it’s a tackle where a defensive player approaches an offensive player from the side or behind, wraps their arms around them, and then uses their body weight to drop and rotate, often landing on the offensive player’s legs. This action creates a significant downward force on the tackled player’s lower extremities. NFL executive Jeff Miller highlighted the severe risk associated with this maneuver, stating it carries a 25 times higher chance of injury compared to a conventional tackle.
Rich McKay, chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, draws a parallel between the hip-drop tackle and the previously banned horse-collar tackle. He explains, “What’s happening on the hip-drop is the defender is encircling, tackling the runner and then swinging their weight and falling on the side of their leg, which is their ankle or their knee.”
Dr. Robert Glatter, a former New York Jets sideline physician and assistant professor of emergency medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health, emphasizes the danger, stating, “A hip-drop tackle is so dangerous. The defender essentially swings their full body weight as they fall on their ankle, leg or knee. This leaves the lower body at risk for serious ankle and ligament damage.” The technique’s inherent mechanics place immense stress on joints and ligaments, leading to a higher probability of severe injuries.
High-Profile Injuries Sparking the Ban
The ban on hip-drop tackles isn’t arbitrary; it’s rooted in a series of notable injuries sustained by NFL players. One prominent example is the injury to Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. During a game against Cincinnati on November 16th, Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson executed a hip-drop tackle on Andrews.
Image of Mark Andrews injured after a hip drop tackle
This tackle resulted in Andrews suffering a cracked fibula and ligament damage to his right ankle, sidelining him for a significant period. Despite the severity, Andrews made a remarkably quick return to action on January 28th, just ten weeks post-injury. Ankle fractures, like the one Andrews experienced, are serious injuries, classified using systems like the Danis-Weber classification system to determine their severity and guide treatment.
Another significant injury occurred in Week 4 when Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith sustained a knee injury from a hip-drop tackle by Isaiah Simmons during a Monday night game. Adding to the irony, Smith was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after reacting to the tackle, highlighting the immediate frustration these tackles can cause. Smith himself labeled it a “dirty play,” emphasizing that such techniques have no place in football.
Other notable injuries linked to hip-drop tackles include:
- Tony Pollard, Cowboys running back: Fractured leg and ankle during an NFC divisional playoff game.
- Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback: Suffered a high ankle sprain during the same weekend’s AFC divisional playoff. Dr. Glatter noted Mahomes’ injury could have been even worse, potentially involving fibula fractures due to the rotational force of the tackle.
These incidents, among others, brought the dangers of the hip-drop tackle into sharp focus, prompting the NFL to take action. Jeff Miller pointed out that injury rates from hip-drop tackles are significantly higher—25 times more—than those from standard tackles, a substantial increase from the “20 times higher” statistic previously cited, underscoring the escalating concern within the league.
Player and Coach Reactions: Controversy and Concerns
Despite the NFL’s safety rationale, the ban has faced criticism. Austin Ekeler’s concern about the subjective nature of officiating these tackles reflects a broader worry among players. The speed of the game and the split-second decisions required by referees raise questions about the consistent and fair application of the new rule.
Conversely, Bengals coach Zac Taylor defended Logan Wilson after the tackle on Mark Andrews, praising Wilson’s playing style. Taylor stated, “Logan is everything we want to be about in the way he plays the game. He plays with a toughness and a physicality that is important to that position.” This highlights the tension between player safety and the inherently physical nature of football, where aggressive tackling is a fundamental aspect of defense.
NFL’s History of Player Safety Rules
The hip-drop tackle ban is not an isolated measure but part of a broader history of NFL rule changes aimed at enhancing player safety. The league has previously taken decisive action against other dangerous techniques:
Horse-collar tackle: Banned in 2005, this tackle involved grabbing the inside back or side of the shoulder pads and pulling a player down, leading to severe leg injuries. The rule prohibits this action on any runner outside the tackle box and quarterbacks still in the pocket. Importantly, a foul is called even if the player isn’t fully pulled to the ground; buckling knees due to the action is sufficient.
Helmet-to-helmet hits: In 2018, the NFL implemented a rule against lowering the head to initiate forcible helmet contact. This foul can occur anywhere on the field and can lead to disqualification, reflecting the league’s firm stance against head injuries.
These prior rule changes demonstrate the NFL’s ongoing effort to balance the competitive nature of football with the critical need to protect player well-being. The hip-drop tackle ban is the latest step in this evolution, aimed at reducing preventable lower-body injuries and ensuring a safer game for all players.
Contributing: Jarrett Bell
