Texans' Cal McNair & NFL Owners Unanimously Vote To Ban Hip-Drop Tackle

The NFL has made a massive rule change, banning the hip drop tackle for the 2024 season.

Jan 20, 2024; Baltimore, MD, USA; Houston Texans chair and ceo Cal McNair gives a thumbs up / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

This week's Annual League Meeting had a full slate of proposed rule changes for Houston Texans' Cal McNair 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 for Texans playmakers like Nico Collins, Dameon Pierce, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz. 

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.

Jan 20, 2024; Baltimore, MD, USA; Houston Texans Cal McNair gives a thumbs up / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

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.

Another decision made at the owner's meetings… Cal McNair was voted the new principal owner of Texans in place of his mother, Janice. The vote was unanimous to make Cal McNair, who was previously the team’s CEO/chair, the team’s official representative. 

Currently, Houston is focused on the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. The Texans are scouting and interviewing prospects with an eye on improving a few key position groups, including defensive end and cornerback. Houston traded the No. 23 selection to the Minnesotea Vikings but coach DeMeco Ryans remains confident there are players on Day 2 who will be difference-makers. 

"There's a lot of guys right there that can come in and help our team,” Ryans told reporters Monday at the NFL’s league meetings. “We feel like that’s where the sweet spot of the draft is this year. We’re excited about that move, and we feel we can add some really quality players.”