Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher Nick Herbig was fined for an illegal hip-drop tackle against Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, the NFL announced on Saturday.
Herbig was fined $6,656 for the tackle, which came on a sack in the second quarter of the Steelers’ 25-10 loss to the Chargers on Sunday Night Football. The play occurred as Herbig rushed from the right of Herbert and looped around behind him. Herbig and safety Kyle Dugger flushed Herbert from the pocket, and he tried to run. Herbig caught him from behind, grasping him around the hips, and pinning Herbert’s legs underneath him as he was tackled.
#Steelers OLB Nick Herbig was fined $6,656 for a hip drop tackle in the second quarter against #LAChargers QB Justin Herbert last week. pic.twitter.com/modZwu4eF8
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) November 15, 2025
The hip drop tackle was outlawed by the NFL before the 2024 season, but the enforcement of the rule has mostly come through fines and supplemental discipline, though penalties can be called.
The play has created a number of significant ankle injuries over the last few years, causing it to be banned, but concerns about being able to accurate officiate the restriction live have led to most of the punishment for illegal hip drops being doled out after the fact. Just two flags for hip drop tackles have been issued this season, but there have been 19 fines handed out like Herbig’s.
Herbert did not miss any plays after the injury, but was visibly limping.
“I just got rolled up,” he said. “A little bit of pain but I thought we did a good job of talking about it on the sideline. I came off and felt like I was safe and comfortable to go back out there.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Edge Rusher Fined For Hip Drop Tackle
