The NFL sent officiating guidance to all 32 teams this week confirming that Browns defensive lineman Adin Huntington's Week 4 tackle on Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a clear hip-drop violation that should have drawn a 15-yard penalty. The league attached game film to the memo. No fine was assessed against Huntington because officials did not flag the play in real time, preserving the $16,883 first-offense baseline for flagged hip-drop infractions.
The tackle occurred late in Pittsburgh's 20-19 road win. Huntington wrapped Rodgers from behind, swiveled his hips, and dropped his weight onto the quarterback's lower legs as both fell. Rodgers walked off under his own power. The play went uncalled. League officiating staff reviewed it Monday and determined it met all three criteria in the hip-drop rule adopted in March: defender grabs the runner, unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips, and lands on the runner's legs at or below the knee.
The clarification matters because defensive coordinators across the league have been asking position coaches what counts. The rule was written to reduce lower-leg injuries after NFLPA data showed hip-drop tackles caused injuries at a 25-times higher rate than standard tackles. But on-field enforcement has been inconsistent. Through Week 5, officials called three hip-drop penalties in 71 games. Film reviews by club compliance staffs identified at least nine additional uncalled instances, according to a defensive coordinator who requested anonymity because his team is one of the clubs pushing for clearer real-time guidance.
The memo gives clubs a concrete example to show linebackers and edge defenders during Tuesday film sessions. It also exposes a gap in how the league penalizes plays officials miss. Because Huntington was not flagged, he avoids the fine. If officials had thrown the flag, he would owe $16,883 for a first offense, escalating to $33,766 for a second violation this season. The Steelers would have gained 15 yards and a fresh set of downs. Instead, Pittsburgh punted three plays later and Cleveland took possession with 4:22 remaining, nearly completing a comeback that fell short when Jameis Winston's fourth-down pass fell incomplete at the Pittsburgh 6-yard line.
Rodgers, 40, has missed 19 games over the past two seasons due to injury. He tore his Achilles in the 2023 opener as a Jet and sat out the remainder of that season. The Steelers signed him in March on a one-year, $5 million deal with $3 million guaranteed. He has started all 5 games this season, completing 63.2% of his passes for 1,127 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. His contract includes a $500,000 per-game roster bonus, which means each week he misses due to injury costs him that amount in addition to recovery time.
Defensive coaches are watching to see whether the league follows up with in-season officiating emphasis similar to the crackdown on defensive holding in 2014 or the taunting penalties in 2021. Both examples saw weekly officiating points of emphasis and increased enforcement after early-season confusion. The Competition Committee meets again in late January. If hip-drop enforcement remains inconsistent through December, expect clubs to push for expanded review authority that allows officials to call the penalty after consulting with the replay booth, similar to the current process for targeting in college football.
The league's next step is likely a reminder to on-field crews during their weekly video conference calls. Senior vice president of officiating Perry Fewell typically addresses officials on Tuesdays. The Rodgers play will anchor that discussion. Teams play Week 6 games starting Thursday night.
The takeaway
Hip-drop enforcement stays uneven, but the league now has a teaching tape for all **32** clubs and a January agenda item if flags don't increase.
Editorial & Disclosure Notice: This article was written with artificial intelligence from public sources and is published without individual human review. Artificial intelligence and other digital tools are also used for research, analysis, editing, formatting, and production. Errors, omissions, outdated information, or inaccuracies may occur. References to companies, brands, products, services, organizations, or individuals are for informational and editorial purposes and do not imply endorsement, sponsorship, affiliation, partnership, or approval unless expressly stated. All trademarks and other intellectual property remain the property of their respective owners. Opinions, analysis, estimates, and commentary are informational only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, tax, medical, procurement, or other professional advice. Information may be corrected, clarified, or updated after publication. Corrections or removal requests: jenny@pops4.com.
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