NFL Looking Into Banning ‘Hip Drop’ Tackle, Tush Push Amid Injury Concerns

League executives say the “hip drop” is 25-times more likely to cause injury than a typical tackle.

The NFL is considering a ban on two types of plays that have been highly scrutinized during the 2023 season thus far. During the league’s owners meetings in New York this week, the “hip drop” tackle and Tush Push quarterback sneak have been high among the topics of discussion. 

Due to the potential for serious injury, the “hip drop” appears to be a priority for league executives to address, according to the Associated Press. Research conducted by the NFL says that hip drop tackles increase the risk of injury by 25 times over a regular tackle. 

With a hip drop, a defender wraps up a runner and uses his full weight to twist, then fall, often coming down on the offensive player’s legs, which can injure an ankle or knee. Rich McKay, chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, called the hip drop a “cousin” to the horse collar tackle that was banned in 2005.

After Mahomes yesterday another textbook high ankle sprain mechanism for Tony Pollard. This one appears worse, additional concern for fracture. Hip drop tackle again too - not always a “dirty” play but a technique with high risk of injury to ball carrier pic.twitter.com/1Tl78OFkPo

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) January 23, 2023

“When they do it, the runner becomes defenseless,” McKay said. “They can’t kick their way out from under. And that’s the problem. That’s where the injury occurs. You see the ankle get trapped underneath the weight of the defender.”

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith had to leave Week 4's matchup versus the Giants after such a tackle by Isaiah Simmons. Following the game, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said the play needed to be outlawed by the league. 

Last season during the playoffs, Cowboys running back Tony Pollard suffered a broken leg and ankle injury on a hip drop tackle by the 49ers' Jimmie Ward. Additionally, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was hurt, sustaining an ankle injury versus the Jaguars.

Meanwhile, a ban on the Tush Push has been under discussion since the end of last season. The Eagles’ use of the play with quarterback Jalen Hurts has been nearly unstoppable in short yardage. According to McKay, the league needs more injury and success-rate data to put the rule up for a vote.

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