Stan Kroenke & NFL Owners Unanimously Vote To Ban Hip Drop Tackle

In a controversial and unanimous decision, the NFL owners, including Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke, voted that the hip-drop tackle is officially illegal.

Dec 31, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke on the field / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

This week's Annual League Meeting had a full slate of proposed rule changes for Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke and the other NFL owners to vote on. In a controversial and unanimous decision, the owners voted that the hip-drop tackle is officially illegal.

The rule change adds another potential penalty for defenders. However, ideally, it makes the game safer. NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay said the technique has a 20-25 times injury rate. The hope is the ban adds more protection to Rams' playmakers like Cooper Kipp, Puca Nacua, Tyler Higbee, and Kyren Williams.

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard is a prime example. Pollard was injured in the January 2023 NFL playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers because of a hip-drop tackle. He was carted off the field and suffered a fractured fibula and high ankle sprain.

Officially from the NFL, 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.

Penalty: For a Hip-Drop Tackle: Loss of 15 yards and an automatic first down.

In total, the NFL's competition committee is presenting six rule changes and NFL franchises are presenting four changes at the meetings, which take place March 24-27.

The billionaire Kroenke is on a hot streak after making moves that have led to NFL, NHL, and NBA titles in an 18-month stretch.

His recent string of success started with the hiring of then-youngest-ever-head-coach Sean McVay, who led the Rams to a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in February of 2022.

In free agency, the Rams have retained right guard Kevin Dotson and opened up their free agency account to sign left guard Jonah Jackson, tight end Colby Parkinson and cornerback Darious Williams. 

The offensive moves look to ease up pressure on quarterback Matthew Stafford and boost the rushing attack.

Currently, L.A. is focused on the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. With a first-round draft selection in their pocket, the Rams are scouting and interviewing prospects, with an eye on improving a few key position groups, including the secondary and edge rusher.