American Football
NFL and NFLPA overhaul fines system with new suspension rules
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The NFL and NFLPA announced a new system that will overhaul fines given to players for on-field acts that violate health and safety rules.
Players who commit three of the following during a season will be suspended for one game.
- Hip drop tackle
- Horse collar tackle
- Launching
- Hit on a defenseless player
- Blindside block
All players will begin the 2026 season with a clean slate, but all violations made in these categories will carry on to subsequent seasons.
Players who only commit one violation out of the five mentioned during the season will get 50% of their fine money back if they don't get fined again for that same one through the season.
Anyone who's fined for one foul in any other player safety category (not the five mentioned above) will get 100% of their fine money back if they don't get fined again for the same foul during the season.
Players who are approaching the suspension threshold will be required to meet with the NFL in the company of their coaches.
Also, teams with an excess of health and safety violations will face financial penalties.
The NFL and NFLPA's goal is 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," per their joint statement.
Teams were informed of these new rules at the league's meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday.
All these changes have been approved on a one-year basis, giving it a full season to see the impact on the teams and players.
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