© Ryan Kang/GettyImages
Key NFL Rule Changes Include Extra Coach's Challenge, Hip Drop Ban
The NFL Competition Committee is considering ten total rule changes for 2024.
The NFL competition committee has approved three of the proposed ten rule changes so far at the annual league meeting in Orlando, Florida.
The first, as proposed by the Detroit Lions, will grant head coaches a third challenge if they are successful with one of their first two. Previously to gain a third challenge, a head coach had to get both challenges correct; that has now been reduced to one. A fourth challenge will not be permitted if a coach is successful with a third challenge.
The Competition Committee's proposed amendment of Rule 14, Section 5, Article 2 will now allow for the enforcement of a major foul by the offense prior to a change of possession in a situation where both teams have committed fouls.
The Competition Committee has also eliminated the hip-drop tackle, as defined in
Rule 12, Section 2 concerns player safety. Here is the new language pertaining to the rule:
"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."
The penalty for a Hip-Drop tackle will be a loss of 15 yards and an automatic first down.
There was also an amendment to Rule 14, Section 5, Article 2, Section 5 being Fouls by Both Teams and Article 2 being Double Foul with a change of possession to allow for the following exception (new language bolded and underlined):
"If both teams foul after the last change of possession (double foul after change of possession), or the offense commits an unnecessary roughness or an unsportsmanlike conduct foul before the change of possession, the penalties are offset, and the team last in possession shall retain the ball at the spot where its foul would be enforced if it was the only foul. If the spot is normally a touchback, the ball is placed on the 20-yard line, or the 25- yard line if the impetus was from a free kick. If it is normally a safety, the ball is placed on the one-yard line. On kicking plays, if Team A fouled prior to the change of possession, Team B shall also have the option in (1) above."
Another notable change to the practices is that all players, with the exception of quarterbacks, kickers, and punters, will have to wear Guardian caps or position-specific helmets that offer increased protection against concussions.
(Photo by Ryan Kang/GettyImages)
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