Frankie Luvu’s Suspension Reduced to Fine After Third Hip-Drop Tackle
Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu will be on the field for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions after a successful appeal of his one-game suspension, the NFL announced Tuesday. Luvu was initially suspended one game without pay for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players. His latest infraction occurred on Sunday night when he made his third hip-drop tackle of the season during Washington’s 38-14 loss to Seattle.
League officials cited Rule 12, Section 2, Article 18, which prohibits players from using techniques that endanger other players. Specifically, the rule states that a foul is committed if a player grabs the runner with one or both hands or wraps the runner with both arms and unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and/or trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.
However, after hearing Luvu’s appeal, the league reduced the one-game suspension to a $100,000 fine. Hearing officer Derrick Brooks, jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA, made the ruling. Michael Signora, NFL senior vice president of football and international communications, stated in a social media post that Luvu is now eligible to play on Sunday.
Luvu stands to lose his game-day check worth $508,833, but the financial loss is mitigated by the fine, which reportedly amounts to a smaller sum. In his second season with the Commanders, Luvu has been a reliable tackler, appearing in all 17 games in 2024 and recording 99 tackles, eight sacks, seven pass breakups, and one interception. In nine games this season, he has 50 tackles, two sacks, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
The decision underscores the NFL’s continued emphasis on player safety while also seeking to manage the balance between enforcing rules and maintaining competitive integrity. While fines are a standard consequence for rule violations, the league’s approach of reducing suspensions to financial penalties may reflect an evolving strategy to handle repeat offenses without disrupting team dynamics and game outcomes.
This incident also highlights the role of hearing officers like Derrick Brooks in making final determinations on disciplinary actions, demonstrating the collaborative effort between the NFL and the NFLPA to address safety concerns within the league. Luvu’s appeal likely included arguments about the nature of the tackles and their impact on the game, as well as his continued performance on the field, which could have influenced the league’s decision to impose a financial penalty instead of a suspension.