The NFL 's annual meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, became a battleground for one of the most polarizing discussions in recent years—the future of the Philadelphia Eagles’ famed " Tush Push ." While a proposal to outlaw the play was brought forward by the Green Bay Packers, the league opted to table the discussion until May, leaving the debate unresolved for now.
This decision comes as no surprise, given the passionate arguments from both sides. Some see the play as an unfair competitive advantage for the Eagles, while others view it as a legitimate part of the game. The move to ban it would have required at least 24 of 32 team owners to approve, but with 16 teams reportedly opposed, the proposal lacked the necessary votes. The conversation, however, is far from over.
Travis and Jason Kelce respond to NFL’s plan to outlaw Eagles’ unstoppable tush push
The Eagles have turned the Tush Push into a nearly unstoppable short-yardage weapon, leveraging their offensive line's dominance to push quarterback Jalen Hurts forward for crucial gains. Other teams have attempted to replicate their success, but few, if any, have achieved the same efficiency. This has fueled arguments that the play provides an unfair advantage.
"I get it. I get why certain teams want to ban it for competitive reasons," former Eagles center Jason Kelce stated on his New Heights podcast. He acknowledged that some perceive the play as unsafe but pushed back on that notion. "I think optically it looks unsafe. For me personally, I never felt like there's that much more of a risk of injuring somebody on the play, and I don't think there's any statistics to back that up."
The real question, according to Kelce, is whether allowing players to push a ball carrier is in line with the spirit of the game. "I think the only argument I see for potentially banning it is—is there a competitive advantage? Is it unfair that players can push?" he added. If the league were to ban pushing in this scenario, he questioned how officials would enforce it in other situations, such as gang tackles or running backs being assisted forward.
His brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce , echoed his sentiment. "There are four downs that a team gets to get a first down or get in the end zone," he said. "If the tush push is just one play that you run when you have a short-yardage situation, those may come up a handful of times throughout a game. You can't get upset at that one play."
What comes next?
While the league has chosen to delay a final ruling, the controversy surrounding the Tush Push remains heated. The proposal’s supporters—including Green Bay’s ownership and possibly Commissioner Roger Goodell—will likely continue to push for its removal. However, with strong resistance from teams that see it as a valid part of football strategy, banning the play will be no easy task.
Also Read: Tom Brady’s unmatched Super Bowl record equaled as NFL recognizes Otto Graham’s AAFC championships in official history
The next league meetings in May could determine whether the Tush Push remains a legal part of the game or is relegated to history. Until then, the Eagles will continue to utilize it, and their opponents will have no choice but to find a way to stop it—on the field rather than in the rulebook.
This decision comes as no surprise, given the passionate arguments from both sides. Some see the play as an unfair competitive advantage for the Eagles, while others view it as a legitimate part of the game. The move to ban it would have required at least 24 of 32 team owners to approve, but with 16 teams reportedly opposed, the proposal lacked the necessary votes. The conversation, however, is far from over.
Travis and Jason Kelce respond to NFL’s plan to outlaw Eagles’ unstoppable tush push
The Eagles have turned the Tush Push into a nearly unstoppable short-yardage weapon, leveraging their offensive line's dominance to push quarterback Jalen Hurts forward for crucial gains. Other teams have attempted to replicate their success, but few, if any, have achieved the same efficiency. This has fueled arguments that the play provides an unfair advantage.
"I get it. I get why certain teams want to ban it for competitive reasons," former Eagles center Jason Kelce stated on his New Heights podcast. He acknowledged that some perceive the play as unsafe but pushed back on that notion. "I think optically it looks unsafe. For me personally, I never felt like there's that much more of a risk of injuring somebody on the play, and I don't think there's any statistics to back that up."
The real question, according to Kelce, is whether allowing players to push a ball carrier is in line with the spirit of the game. "I think the only argument I see for potentially banning it is—is there a competitive advantage? Is it unfair that players can push?" he added. If the league were to ban pushing in this scenario, he questioned how officials would enforce it in other situations, such as gang tackles or running backs being assisted forward.
His brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce , echoed his sentiment. "There are four downs that a team gets to get a first down or get in the end zone," he said. "If the tush push is just one play that you run when you have a short-yardage situation, those may come up a handful of times throughout a game. You can't get upset at that one play."
What comes next?
While the league has chosen to delay a final ruling, the controversy surrounding the Tush Push remains heated. The proposal’s supporters—including Green Bay’s ownership and possibly Commissioner Roger Goodell—will likely continue to push for its removal. However, with strong resistance from teams that see it as a valid part of football strategy, banning the play will be no easy task.
Also Read: Tom Brady’s unmatched Super Bowl record equaled as NFL recognizes Otto Graham’s AAFC championships in official history
The next league meetings in May could determine whether the Tush Push remains a legal part of the game or is relegated to history. Until then, the Eagles will continue to utilize it, and their opponents will have no choice but to find a way to stop it—on the field rather than in the rulebook.
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