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Baltimore Ravens star edge rusher Kyle Van Noy wants to see the NFL make a change to the intentional grounding rule.
Van Noy, 34, wants intentional grounding calls to count as a sack for the defender that forces the quarterback to throw the ball away, saying it takes money out of the defender’s pocket.
“One thing the @NFL needs to change back is intentional grounding by a QB should be a sack again! You work so hard as a defender and a QB might just throw it away to avoid the sack and take money from a defender! Change your mind….” Van Noy wrote the X.
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Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy (53) looks on during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills in an AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on January 19, 2025. (Mark Konezny/Imagn Images)
As currently written, intentional grounding is when a quarterback is under duress in the tackle box, faces an imminent loss of yardage, and throws a forward pass that is not in the direction and proximity of an initially eligible receiver. The pass does not have to be incomplete for intentional grounding to apply.
The penalty for intentional grounding is a loss of down and 10 yards from the previous spot. If the passing spot is further than 10 yards from the ball’s previous spot, the ball will be placed there with the loss of the down.
If intentional grounding occurs in the end zone, it is a safety.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass to Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy (53) during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland on November 27, 2025. (Mitch Stringer/Imagn Images)
Van Noy wants the edge rushers to receive credit for a sack on purpose, as many edge rushers in the NFL have recorded incentive bonuses for sacks, and those are the ones that cause the penalty.
Six-time Pro Bowler Eric Weddle responded to Van Noy’s post and agreed with him. Van Noy was asked how the NFL should award the sack if there are multiple defenders causing the intentional grounding.
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“Great question Mike… 3 guys should be a team sack if hard to tell but most of the time you can establish half sacks and full sacks. If not…guys can call in so they can look into it. If 2 guys hit him should get a half. 1 guy should get full. I also think they take the half sacks out to both of me but it might just be a small sack for me being greedy,” Van Noy wrote on X.
Van Noy finished the 12th season of his career and his second with the Ravens. In 15 games, he had two sacks, 20 tackles and an interception. Last season, Van Noy recorded 12.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl. He will be a free agent this offseason.
