After watching superstars Nick Chubb and Mark Andrews, as well as other players across the league experience season-ending injuries, The NFL finally had enough of the hip-drop tackle. The day the ban was announced, the media exploded with opinions on both perspectives from fans, analysts, and even players.
In an attempt to find the justification for why the NFL made the change, analysts looked at the deeper stats about the hip-drop tackle. “The hip-drop tackle was used 230 times last season, resulting in 15 players missing time with injuries. A 6.5 percent injury rate,” says NFL analyst Jeff Miller
NFL defensive players all over the league were outraged by this rule change, such as former Houston Texans star defensive rusher Jonathan Greenard, who said, “You can’t ban something and not show us the alternatives.” Additionally, defensive players question the NFL’s decision banning offensive players from getting their legs taken out from beneath them but not doing anything to stop offensive blockers from taking out defensive rushers’ legs from beneath them.
Among the many NFL fans and analysts who commented about the rule change, defensive players began expressing their opinions, including New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers, who said, “Chop blocks and low-cut tackles can also do the same. Are those banned? It’s football, you have to be okay with the fact you can possibly be injured. It’s a violent collision sport. We aren’t bird watching.” On the other hand, many offensive players, especially running backs, have a different stance on the matter.
Kenyan Drake, a player whose season came to an end early due to an ACL tear because of getting hip-drop tackled, said, “Hip-drop tackles have been detrimental to the health of runners, including myself.” Though it is unfortunate to see players severely injured, it is unfair to the defensive players to have to make a significant adjustment to an already offensive-biased game. Not only can they no longer tackle with the simplest method technique, but now the referees will be watching for the newly illegal fundamental, meaning if they accidentally do it out of instinct, they will be penalized. It would come as no surprise if, after just one season, the players lodge enough complaints that the NFL reverses the rule change for the 2026 season.
