Jerry Jones expects NFL to ban hip-drop tackle

This week, the NFL‘s team owners will be considering various proposals from the league’s competition committee that if enacted, could change the way the game is played in 2024. Among the proposals is a potential ban on the controversial hip-drop tackle.

If the decision was up to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, the hip-drop tackle would be banned moving forward. Jones told reporters he “absolutely” expects the ban to pass, and he supports it, despite the NFLPA giving the proposal a resounding “no.”

“You can coach that one (out),” Jones said. “In my mind, that’s one of the easier deals. It reminds me a little of (the) horse collar. That’s needed. That’s very needed. It’s very obvious that it’s injurious.”

Jones’ team suffered a major loss before the playoffs in 2022 due to a hip-drop tackle on running back Tony Pollard. Pollard fractured his left fibula and had a high-ankle sprain that needed surgery after a hip-drop tackle late in the season, forcing him to go on IR for the remainder of the year.

If the NFL chooses to enact the competition committee’s proposal, the penalty for committing a hip-drop tackle will be a loss of 15 yards and an automatic first down for the opposing team. Here is the NFL Competition Committee’s proposed amendment to Rule 12, Section 2 of the NFL rule book:

“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.”

NFL sees spike injuries from hip-drop tackles

The league owners will vote on the proposals at the annual league meetings this week in Orlando, Florida.

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy called for hip-drop tackles at all levels to be curbed after Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis fractured his leg against North Alabama. The injury knocked him out for the rest of the year, and subsequently gave the CFP committee a reason not to include the Seminoles in the College Football Playoffs.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews suffered a season-ending lower leg injury on an apparent hip-drop tackle on Thursday Night Football just days before the Florida State quarterback was injured.

“We HAVE to do something about Hip-Drop tackles. It’s like the ‘Horse Collar’ from awhile back. It’s not dirty, but it’s dangerous. There’s been SO many lower leg injuries from Hip Drops over the years. We must address it as a sport,” McElroy said on social media.

Booger McFarland had a different view, however, as a former defender in the league:

“Agree on horse collar, the hip drop I’ll push back,” McFarland said in response to McElroy. “How are we as a defender supposed to get a guy down running full speed away from us while trying to pull away when we grab him? I agree on making the game safer however we have to be able to get fast explosive players down.”