Kerby Joseph unsuccessfully tried to tackle James Cook by the hair during a 41-yard Bills touchdown run

While the NFL has banned certain tackles in the name of player safety — horse collar and hip-drop tackles, for example — grabbing a player’s hair is perfectly legal. The league has told players that if they choose to wear their hair out of the helmet, opposing players are free to grab them in a tackle attempt.

James Cook experienced that on Sunday, but there was no stopping him.

During Week 15’s huge matchup between the Bills and Lions, Cook found plenty of space on a second-down handoff and scampered into the secondary. In hopes of slowing down Cook, Kerby Joseph dove and grabbed hold of Cook’s hair. Yeah, it didn’t work.

JAMES COOK. 41-YARD TD.

: #BUFvsDET on CBS/Paramount+
: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/9aiKnkhTjr

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024

Ouch. pic.twitter.com/H0sN7hdvPI

— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) December 15, 2024

Cook brushed off the hair pull and continued on for a 41-yard touchdown run.

That had to hurt for sure, but Cook will gladly take the six points.