Is it finally the end of one of the most controversial plays of the 2023 season? Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was injured during the play in the last season. Tony Pollard’s injury, too, during the 2023 postseason sparked animated discussions about this type of play.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell emphasized the need to eliminate such tackles from the game in December because of the risk of causing lower-body injuries when players’ feet become entangled during this maneuver. However, nothing was finalized then, and there were rumors that the hip-drop tackle might be discussed in the offseason. So, here comes the date when the hip-drop tackle is being talked about by the NFL committee while introducing another format.

Is the hip-drop tackle likely to be banned?

NFL columnist Judy Battista’s series of posts on X suggests that the NFL committee is reportedly working on the league’s hip-drop tackle play. The columnist tweeted, “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.“

A “hip-drop tackle” involves a defender approaching from behind, leaving their feet, and landing on the opponent’s hip to bring them down.

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As highlighted by NFL executive Jeff Miller, this tackle escalates the risk of injury by 25 times compared to a standard tackle. In the previous season, multiple players experienced injuries due to this play, including Geno Smith, Tyreek Hill, and Mark Andrews.

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However, the committee is not only deciding on banning the play to reduce the risk of injuries but is also likely to implement a play, i.e., the XFL-style kickoff format, in the league.

What is the XFL-style kickoff format and how does it work?

The NFL is considering adopting a variation of an XFL rule regarding kickoffs. In discussions led by the NFL’s Competition Committee, they explored the XFL’s kickoff format, which requires specific player alignments to reduce high-speed collisions. The proposal, to be voted on next month, aims to increase the number of returns, which were notably low in 2023.

XFL’s rule positions “10 players on each team to line up five yards apart on the kickoff. Only the kicker and returner are lined up elsewhere. The format makes it so players are not running a long distance before they collide with one another to minimize running distances and collisions.“

The NFL hopes this adjustment could boost return rates while potentially reducing injuries compared to the existing kickoff rules.