The NFL owners met this week and voted against a significant proposal that would have effectively banned the controversial ‘tush push’ play, enabling the Philadelphia Eagles to continue using this tactic that they have mastered.
According to league sources, 10 teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and New York Jets, opposed the Green Bay Packers’ proposal aimed at curtailing this play.
Despite a majority of teams voting in favor of a ban, the proposal fell just two votes short of the 24-vote threshold needed to enact such a measure.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie was a prominent advocate for the ‘tush push’, speaking to fellow team owners for over 30 minutes before the vote.
Lurie emphasized the importance of ensuring quarterback safety, stating, “Whoever votes to ban this play is taking liability for putting risk on our quarterbacks.”
Adding further weight to Lurie’s argument, former Eagles center Jason Kelce also spoke in favor of the play’s safety.
In a previous discussion at the scouting combine, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni labeled the move to ban the play as “unfair,” arguing that it was unjust to eliminate a tactic simply because the Eagles excelled at it.
General Manager Howie Roseman engaged in a spirited dialogue with Rams coach Sean McVay and Bills coach Sean McDermott during league meetings in April over the merits of the tush push.
Lurie countered concerns over player safety by claiming that the data collected did not indicate that the ‘tush push’ was unsafe.
He stated, “I think for everybody, including myself especially, health and safety is the most important thing when evaluating any play.
We’ve been very open to whatever data exists on the tush push, and there’s just been no data that shows that it isn’t a very, very safe play.
If it weren’t, we wouldn’t be pushing the tush push.”
The ongoing debate surrounding the tush push reveals the divide within the league regarding one of its most talked-about plays.
This play, where the quarterback takes a direct snap and is pushed forward by teammates in a scrum-like fashion resembling rugby, has ignited strong opinions from coaches, executives, and players alike throughout the offseason.
The controversy intensified when the Packers formally proposed to ban the play in February, with Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur asserting that its rugby elements were inappropriate for the game.
LaFleur, along with other coaches, raised concerns that the play poses an injury risk.
After an earlier vote was postponed in April, a revised proposal was submitted just before this week’s crucial meeting, aiming to implement broader language that would prohibit offensive players from assisting their runner in ways other than blocking opponents.
The NFL’s competition committee and health and safety committee recommended this proposal to ban the play, highlighting the vocal arguments made by its supporters and detractors alike.
So far, no team has executed QB sneaks as effectively or often as the Eagles, who employed this tactic 122 times in 1-yard-to-go situations since 2022.
In comparison, the Bills (74), Steelers (55), and Broncos (52) have only managed over 50 such attempts in the same timeframe.
The Eagles were successful, scoring 30 touchdowns and achieving 105 first downs through these plays.
To optimize their strategy, the Eagles even recruited former Scottish rugby player Richie Gray for guidance.
While Kelce has acknowledged the physical toll that the tush push exacts on players, he continues to advocate for its place in the sport.
He noted during an appearance on TNT’s ‘The Steam Room’ that while it is taxing, “football is a sport that comes down to physicality, aggression, our will versus your will for a yard.”
Earlier in April, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell remarked during an interview that he hadn’t perceived a significant push from either side of the argument regarding the play.
However, he expressed optimism that conversations about the issue could help form a consensus among team owners and coaches.
As the discussion around the tush push continues, Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown offered a more laid-back perspective on the matter.
When asked about the play, Brown shrugged and said, “I don’t have any thoughts on it,” before adding with a laugh, “It’s only one yard.”
image source from：https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6370096/2025/05/21/nfl-tush-push-banned-owners-vote/
