In Philadelphia, the spotlight is on the iconic Tush Push play as NFL owners prepare to vote on potentially banning it. This play, famously utilized by the Eagles, has been remarkably effective, working about 90% of the time for the team. However, the challenge isn’t primarily from opposing defenses looking for a way to stop it but rather from a proposed ban that could come from the league’s own owners. The owners are set to meet this week in Palm Beach, Florida.
The proposed ban, introduced by the Green Bay Packers, aims to restrict pushing or throwing body weight against a teammate immediately at the snap to aid in gaining yardage. To pass this rule, 24 of the 32 owners must approve it. The Eagles, who have successfully leveraged the Tush Push with quarterback Jalen Hurts, are hoping the vote does not reach that threshold.
Rich McKay, the NFL competition committee chairman, expressed skepticism about the proposal, highlighting that it appears directed mostly at the Eagles and the Bills. Over the past three seasons, these two teams have attempted the Tush Push 163 times, finding success with an 87% conversion rate. Meanwhile, other teams averaged a 71% success rate. McKay acknowledged that the rule discussion has drawn criticism for evidently targeting only a couple of teams.
The Tush Push involves two players lining up behind Hurts, who then pushes him forward to gain the extra yards needed for a first down or touchdown. Hurts, a powerful player capable of squatting 600 pounds, has scored a remarkable 29 rushing touchdowns in the past two seasons alone, leading all quarterbacks.
While many teams try variations of the Tush Push for short-yardage situations, some voices argue against the play. Packers CEO Mark Murphy expressed his disapproval, stating there is “no skill involved” and noted it feels almost automatic for a first down. In contrast, Coach Sirianni of the Eagles expressed his disappointment regarding the discussions surrounding potential injury risks associated with the Tush Push, claiming the concerns may be overstated as there were no injuries resulting from this play last season.
As the league’s annual meeting approaches, other rule proposals, including one from the Eagles that seeks to extend playoff overtime rules to regular games, will also be examined. The proposal advocates for each team to have the chance to possess the ball, similar to playoff rules, and extends the overtime period from 10 to 15 minutes.
The coming days will be critical for the Eagles, as the future of the Tush Push—and potentially their offensive strategy—hangs in the balance.
