A proposal to ban the controversial “tush push” has become a source of contention at the NFL owners meetings.
Discussions about the future of the short-yardage play popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles became “heated” during Sunday’s football operations meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., according to ESPN, which cited two sources who were present.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was also reportedly part of a group that congregated outside of the meeting for an animated exchange, as were Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott and Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay.
McDermott is among those who oppose the tush push.
The proposal to outlaw the tush push was submitted by the Green Bay Packers, who cited player safety and pace of play. The ban has support from the NFL’s competition committee, according to ESPN, which also cited a source who said the proposal would be “hotly contested” by teams.
The tush push is a version of a QB sneak in which two offensive players line up behind the quarterback, then push him forward once he snaps the ball.
The play is most synonymous with the Eagles, whose 223-pound quarterback, Jalen Hurts, has scored at least 13 rushing touchdowns in each of the last three seasons.
Despite McDermott’s stance on the proposal, the Bills — who boast a similarly stout quarterback in Josh Allen — have run a version of play, too. The Eagles and Bills were the only teams to run the play at least five times last season.
McDermott is part of the competition committee, as is McVay. Giants owner John Mara is on the committee.
Whether to outlaw the “tush push” is among the proposals expected to be voted on Tuesday by the NFL owners. For a ban to be enacted, 24 of the 32 teams would have to vote in favor of it.
“All I will say about it is [Jonathan] Gannon, [Shane] Steichen and [Kellen] Moore better vote [against the ban],” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told NFL Media, referring to former Philadelphia coordinators who are now head coaches.
“They are in the [head coach] position right now because of that play. So all three, I better have those three votes right there and the Eagles’ vote. I at least know we have four.”
Steichen said Monday that he supports the play remaining legal, as did the Cleveland Browns’ Kevin Stefanski.
“They’ve done a good job of creating a play that’s hard to stop,” said Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, who was previously the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator. “To me, my job is to stop that play. So regardless, it’s going to be another play that’s going to come out that’s hard to stop, and our job is to stop that play. So, I’m going to answer it like that.”
The committee meetings regarding the ban have featured modeling that describes the risk of injury but not specific data, according to ESPN.
In 2023, Giants center John Michael Schmitz and tight end Daniel Bellinger were both injured on the same play when they ran the tush push.
The debate garnered renewed attention during this year’s NFC Championship Game, when the Washington Commanders committed back-to-back encroachment penalties, and then were called offside, in anticipation of Philadelphia running the tush push at the goal line. Hurts ultimately scored on the play.
“We’re looking for consistency as a committee, and we don’t allow pushing,” said Dallas Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones, a member of the competition committee and an advocate of the ban.
“We don’t allow the linebackers to push the defensive linemen on extra points and we’re just trying to be consistent. These quarterbacks, I’m sure they would be wildly successful whether you’re pushed or not.”