NFL makes any hit with crown of helmet a 15-yard penalty

NFL owners have rewritten the rule on using the crown of the helmet, making it a 15-yard penalty to initiate any hit with it.

Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee and president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons, called it "a significant change," noting that it was a "technique too dangerous for the player doing it and the player being hit."

McKay said the tackle made by the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ryan Shazier last season that resulted in the linebacker suffering a spinal injury was not the impetus for the change. But it was an example of what needs to be eliminated from the game.

"This one technique, we saw so many hits when a player lowered his head and delivered a hit and either hurt himself or the player he was hitting," McKay said. "It was time for a change of this magnitude."

While the offender could be disqualified, owners did not call for an automatic ejection on such a play -- at least not yet. In college football, when a player is penalized for targeting and a replay review affirms it, he is ejected.

Automatically disqualifying players for these hits will be discussed in the future, McKay said, and that would involve replay reviews. He added that the coaches were "most vociferous" about wanting these hits out of the game.

"I am very pleased to see the overwhelming support of the coaches, general managers and owners that we want to make the game safer," said Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer. "This is [one] change that could be made immediately that could impact this technique."