On Saturday, the NFL’s Football Operations Department released a video detailing what hits would constitute a 15-yard penalty and what hits would result in an automatic ejection under the league’s new rules.
The new @NFL Use of Helmet rule explained with video examples. Watch: pic.twitter.com/r2qPWEqMeN
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) June 2, 2018
As detailed in the video, it is considered a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opposing player. The league’s video provides three visual examples of plays that would violate the rule.
The NFL’s video also revealed the standards for which a player would be ejected if he violates under the new league rule.
If a player lowers his helmet to establish a linear body posture prior to initiating and making contact with the helmet, the player will be ejected.
If the player delivering the blow had an unobstructed path to his opponent and contact was clearly avoidable, the player will be disqualified from the game.
The video provides two examples of a hit that would qualify for an ejection, including the hit from last season against Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams by Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan.