Over the past several years, the NFL has made many rule changes in an attempt to protect players with most of these changes seeming to help offensive players and make things more difficult for defensive players. And it seems like the NFL is moving forward with yet another one of those changes.
According to a report from Judy Battista of the NFL Network, the league’s competition committee is moving forward with banning the controversial “hip drop” tackle that has resulted in several high-profile injuries the past several years.
“On hip drop tackles, the committee is still working on getting the right language for a rule, but a source said they are “aligned” on getting it out of the game,” Battista said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
On hip drop tackles, the committee is still working on getting the right language for a rule, but a source said they are “aligned” on getting it out of the game.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) February 25, 2024
But while this move is designed to protect players on the field, fans were not at all happy about the change as it’s yet another example of the game becoming more difficult for defensive players and favoring the offense.
This is garbage
— Lancelott (@LancelottMusic) February 26, 2024
Well, there goes tackle football. Guess we’re going two-hand touch or flag ASAP. It was a good run while it lasted!
— Beelzebubba (@HawkStrologer) February 26, 2024
I think I know what a hip drop tackle is
But this seems like it's going to end badly in the hands of NFL officials https://t.co/Uu2BqcRuaO
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) February 25, 2024
You thought you hated where NFL reffing was at before…. https://t.co/eMQyWUkpVD
— Cole Craycraft (@ColeCraycraft) February 25, 2024
This is going to be an absolute nightmare. Just gonna be handing everyone 15 yards all game on yet another judgement call. https://t.co/QZNvKgVm7z
— B.J. (@bj_all_day80) February 26, 2024
I feel bad for defensive players. The rules have already been have slated in favor of the offense for the better part of the last decade. They’re making it essentially impossible to play football. https://t.co/RZG5FvyPDk
— Tanner James (@tjdissect) February 26, 2024
The sport will be completely unwatchable within five years https://t.co/fu63sh2M8l
— Austin Graham (@TrainStation22) February 26, 2024
It seems like the NFL is moving toward adopting this rule change, so it will be interesting to see how it impacts the way defenders make tackles – especially when chasing a player from behind.
