The NFL is implementing significant player-safety rule changes ahead of the 2026 season, focusing on five specific violations: hip-drop tackles, horse-collar tackles, launching, hits on defenseless players, and blindside blocks. Players committing three violations in a season will face a one-game suspension, with infractions carrying over to future seasons. This shift aims to enhance enforcement, particularly regarding the hip-drop tackle, which has seen limited calls since its ban in 2024. Players will start the 2026 season with a clean slate, but the potential for suspensions looms if violations accumulate.
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NFL Implements New Rules Expected to Increase Player Suspensions
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