The NFL has gone through tremendous changes over the decades of its existence. From franchises relocating to rules and regulations of the league being changed, fans have witnessed the game of football going through multiple transitions over the course of time. And one of the most notable transitions is for the QBs of the league. Over the past few years, the NFL has changed the rules of how QBs are tackled on the field, making it a more safe space for them to play.

Back in 2008, Tom Brady suffered a season-ending torn ACL after being tackled by Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard. And this led to the league ruling out tackling the knees of QBs as a legal play. But has the modern-day game of football, which includes stars like Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, become too soft?

How different is the modern-day NFL from its predecessors? 

The physicality of the game of football is well-known throughout the NFL fanbase. 300-pound linemen tackling QBs to stop them from making game-changing plays has always been one of the highlights of the NFL. But over the years, the league has changed the rules of how QBs are to be tackled on the field, creating a safer space for guys like Mahomes and Burrow to make jaw-dropping passes on the field. 

A recent post by GameFacesports on Instagram shows how QBs were tackled back before the league implemented stricter rules. The clip shows how tough the game was for QBs before, with them getting tackled left and right on the post. This was back when the NFL did not have as many rules against tackling and taking down QBs as they do today. Even NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal shared the post on his Instagram story, as an homage to the old game of football when it was more brutal. 

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As for fans, they took to the comments section to relieve the nostalgia of the old NFL, while talking about how current NFL players have it easier for them.

Fans relieve the previous era of football

Fans took to the comment section to talk about how the NFL has changed over the years.

One fan commented, “Back when football was good💯”

Another fan said, “Now, the NFL is hella sensitive lol”

This fan talked about how Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow are oblivious to the hits QBs had to take back then, “Mahomes and Burrow have no idea how good they got it”

Another fan stated how QBs of the old NFL had to really earn their lucrative contracts, “Back when you used to REALLY have to EARN THOSE NUMBERS💯”

This fan wants the modern game to revert back to its old ways, “That’s the football I want to watch again”

Do you think the NFL has actually changed drastically over the years? Let us know in the comments below. 

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