Steelers TE Darnell Washington Fined for Illegal Crackback

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Darnell Washington revealed he was hit with a $6,000 fine for an illegal crackback block during Week 3’s win versus the Los Angeles Chargers. Washington announced the fine while speaking with the media in the Steelers locker room this week. He said he intends to appeal the fine.

An illegal crackback block is when any player, most often an offensive player lined up more than two yards outside the offensive tackle, cuts into the middle of the field and initiates blindside contact with a defender. Crackback blocks are a 15-yard penalty during games. Washington’s illegal block went unpenalized during last Sunday’s game.

Steelers fans are familiar with illegal crackbacks, as former Steelers great Hines Ward was long considered a master of these blind-side blocks. Ward left many defenders bleary-eyed and woozy, smashing them with his shoulder and forearm.

After Ward broke the jaw of Cincinnati Bengals LB Keith Rivers in 2008, the NFL instituted what is known as the “Hines Ward Rule.” The rule made contact with the head or neck of the blind-sided player with the forearm, shoulder, or helmet illegal.

The Steelers organization voted against the rule.

In the years since, the NFL made more modifications to the rules regarding crackback blocks. In 2012, the NFL expanded the list of “defenseless players” to include defenders in crackback block scenarios. The NFL went further in 2017, prohibiting these blocks from offensive players in motion, even if they’re within two yards of the tackle when the ball is snapped.

During the 2024 offseason, the NFL considered penalizing any offensive player in a backfield position or in motion who initiates contact at or below the knee beyond the position where the ball was snapped. Though Washington’s illegal block didn’t receive a penalty during Week 3, the Steelers are tied for the eight-most penalties per game, averaging 7.3. His fine was the first of the season for the Steelers, who were among the most-fined teams in the NFL in 2023.

Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.