NFL: Goodbye to the ‘Tush Push’? Uncertainty about the future of the play

The NFL’s Controversial “Tush Push”: On the Road to Disappearance?

Despite the controversy and debate generated, the “tush push” might not disappear from the NFL. Sources within the league suggest that there are no guarantees that this topic will be discussed or put to a vote in the next offseason. After the intense discussion that the “tush push” sparked last season, a source believes it is necessary to put the issue on hold for a year before revisiting it. Furthermore, there’s the practical difficulty of trying to ban the play again. Former Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy proposed the ban in the previous offseason, but he retired in July upon reaching the organization’s mandatory retirement age (70 years old). The proposal to ban the “tush push” received 22 votes last spring, but needed 24 to pass. A new proposal would require a new author, more support, and more votes. A source indicated that they don’t know if that will happen, and added that there have been no movements for it to occur, at least for now. Criticism of the play could lead to a team proposing a new ban later in the season, but that is not the case at this moment, as the NFL enters its third week of competition. Regardless of whether the league votes on a new proposal, the “tush push” will remain in play this season. The “tush push” has resurfaced in the debate after the Philadelphia Eagles used it in their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday. The NFL instructed the referees to apply the play more strictly and announced that Philadelphia should have been penalized for a false start on one of the occasions they used the “tush push” on Sunday. The Eagles, current Super Bowl champions, have defended the use of this play in recent days. Left tackle Jordan Mailata criticized those who use the “tush push” “as an excuse for why we win the game” during a radio interview on Tuesday. One day later, center Cam Jurgens stated that the Eagles “aren’t worried about what other teams or people say.”

We are concerned about what we do here. If the league wants to intervene and emphasize the rules, we will take it into account. But it’s the same: play Eagles football.

Cam Jurgens

Critics of the “tush push” argue that it is a dangerous play, although there was not enough injury data to ban it for safety reasons. The Eagles (2-0) have dominated the “tush push” in short-yardage situations, converting the play on 96.6% of occasions in fourth-and-one situations since 2022. Former Eagles center Jason Kelce, who defended the “tush push” and presented a detailed explanation to NFL owners last spring, believes the renewed criticism will lead to the play being banned.

I think the play is over. I think there are a lot of people within the league, at multiple levels, who want the play to go away, which is fine.

Jason Kelce

Kelce added that the Eagles will continue to use the “quarterback sneak” and that they will surely find ways to succeed. However, despite the growing frustration with the play, there is no significant opposition that could result in its prohibition.