NFL, NFLPA agree to new fine and suspension system for penalties related to health and safety rules

The NFL and NFLPA announced on Wednesday that they had reached an agreement on a new system of fines and suspensions for penalties that violate health and safety rules.

Both sides said in a joint statement that they have worked over the years on ways to “make the game safer by focusing discipline on the techniques most likely to result in player injury rather than players who make isolated mistakes during competition.”

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As such, they are placing greater sanctions on five player health and safety rule violations. The five categories are:

• Hit on a Defenseless Player

One or two violations of these rules will result in in-game penalties and/or post-game fines. If a single player commits three total infractions from any of the categories, they will receive a one-game suspension. This could be three hip drop tackles, but also one hip drop tackle, one horse collar tackle, and one blindside block.

If a player commits only one total violation from these five categories, they will receive 50% of their initial fine back at the end of the season.

The joint statement noted that players will start the 2026 season with a completely clean slate. However, violations in these categories will carry “forward to subsequent seasons.” This means that a hip drop tackle this season would result in a player getting back 50% of their initial fine, but a launching penalty in 2027 and a hip drop tackle in 2028 would result in a one-game suspension in 2028.

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Players who are approaching the suspension threshold, likely after they get their second violation, and their coaches will be required to attend meetings with the NFL.

Furthermore, clubs that have excessive health and safety rule violations as a team will face increased financial penalties.

This new system is the result of continued efforts to make the game safer. The NFL made the decision to officially ban the hip drop tackle ahead of the 2024 season. This system can still be tweaked moving forward, but it is applicable starting this season.