The technique has been linked with a huge increase in the likelihood of injury

THE NFL is preparing to get tough on the controversial hip-drop tackle.

Bosses from all 32 NFL teams are set to meet in Orlando, Florida, next week to vote on banning the technique.

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The hip-drop tackle could soon be a thing of the past in the NFLCredit: Getty

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The tackling technique is estimated to increase the chance of injury by 25 timesCredit: Getty
The hip-drop tackle involves a player wrapping both arms around an opponent’s waist or lower body to drag them to the floor after approaching from the side or behind.

It was linked with a number of injuries over the past two seasons, including a cracked fibula for Baltimore’s Mark Andrews and a broken fibula for running back Tony Pollard.

The league is proposing a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down to punish teams using the tackling technique next season, per ESPN.

A player would be penalized if they “wrap the runner with both hands,” according to the league’s proposal.

“[A penalty would be given if the player] 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,” it added.

League executive Jeff Miller has previously claimed the hip-drop tackle increases the risk of injury by 25 times the rate of a standard tackle, per NFL.com.

However, the National Football League Players Association has indicated it will “oppose” any attempt to outlaw the technique.

“The players oppose any attempt by the NFL to implement a rule prohibiting a swivel hip-drop tackle,” the NFLPA said in a statement on Wednesday, via NBC.

“While the NFLPA remains committed to improvements to our game with health and safety in mind, we cannot support a rule change that causes confusion for us as players, for coaches, for officials and especially, for fans.

“We call on the NFL, again, to reconsider implementing this rule.”

“Not even sure how you avoid this as a player,” said one fan on X, as the debate over the tackle raged on social media.

“So you can’t tackle anymore. Got it,” said another.

“Flag football incoming,” sighed a third.

“This is ridiculous. They continue to make it harder & harder to play defense every year,” complained a fourth.

The proposal will only pass at the meeting in Orlando with support from 24 of the league’s 32 owners.

The NFL identified 105 hip-drop tackles out of 20,000 total tackles reviewed over the past two seasons, per NBC.

Last fall, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell indicated he wanted the tackle banned to avoid “devastating” injuries.

“I think we all should work to get that out of the game,” Goodell said.

“You see it escalated the number of times it occurred this season.

“The injuries could be very devastating. It’s not just happening at the NFL level, it’s happening at other levels.

“It’s something that we have to work very hard to get that removed this spring.”