- Until 1977, there was scarce thought given to penalizing players who used their helmets to tackle or block their opponents. Players could not hit an opponent late with their helmet, but then again, they could not hit an opponent late anyway. However, in an August 1977 preseason game between the Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots, Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum hit New England wide receiver Darryl Stingley with a helmet-first hit on a pass over the middle. Stingley suffered a severed spinal cord and was never able to walk again. Hall-of-Famer John Madden was the Raiders' coach at the time and was horrified by the result of the hit. Madden became one of the driving forces behind rules that prevented players from leading with their helmets
- The significance of that fearsome hit is that the subject of helmet-first hits became a topic for discussion in the NFL. It took years for the NFL to address the situation, but the league banned helmet-first hits and prohibited one player from launching his body and using his helmet as a weapon against his opponent. Players who hit helmet-first can get ejected from the game and/or get a 15-yard penalty, depending on the harshness of the hit.
- There is contact between offensive and defensive linemen on every play. Their helmets often make contact. There is no penalty in these cases as long as the officials determine there is no intent on the part of one of the linemen to injure the other.
- The impact of the no-hit with helmet rules in the NFL is that players hesitate and think first before hitting their opponent. Players who would have led with their helmet are now leading with their shoulder pads or their arms.
- Football is a tough and violent game that is based on blocking and tackling; however, with the helmet rule, players are not as aggressive as they would be otherwise. The game still is tough and hard-hitting, so the effect of this rule has not lessened the game's overall appeal. And it has been a good thing for players' overall safety, not just on the receiving end, but even for tacklers. Leading with your helmet puts the tackler in as much jeopardy as the player receiving the hit because your neck can be bent straight down and your spinal cord can be severely damaged or severed.
