ENRUES
All penalties

Horse-collar tackle

Penalty: Defense, Special teams

What it is

A tackler grabs the inside back or side of the collar of the runner’s shoulder pads or jersey and pulls him down.

The penalty

The penalty is 15 yards, plus an automatic first down. The penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul. The offense also gets a first down.

More detail

The tackle is banned because the runner’s legs can twist under him and cause serious injury.

Animated play

101020203030404050504040303020201010END ZONEEND ZONEXXXXXYanks him down by the collarHorse-collar tackle15 yards added to the runAutomatic first downA runner is being chased from behind.The tackler grabs the collar and pulls him backward.

Blue circles are the team with the ball. X marks the other team. The yellow oval is the ball.

  1. A runner is chased from behind.
  2. The tackler gets a hand inside the back collar of his shoulder pads and yanks him down.
  3. The officials flag it: fifteen yards and an automatic first down for the offense.