What is the point of any hard tackling in football?
It's a game of emotion and aggression and domination, snowflake.
you want to rattle the opponent, make them hesitant.
Of course, but that renders the space between fear/intimidation and trying to hurt them very small. Saying players aren't trying to hurt them is not true.
Most are probably not trying to end their year though.
Bud Adams told me the franchise he admired the most was the Kansas City Chiefs. Then he asked for more hookers and blow.