The NFL tush push ban proposal is
back on the table at the spring owners meetings
[May 20, 2025]
By DAVE CAMPBELL
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Can the tush push cross the goal line for good?
Or will the NFL 's touchy and trendy short-yardage strategy
ultimately get stuffed?
League owners will answer that question in Minnesota, where they're
holding their spring meetings next to Vikings headquarters on
Tuesday and Wednesday. After tabling the issue seven weeks ago for
further discussion, a vote is expected on the proposal by the Green
Bay Packers to prohibit the play popularized by the reigning Super
Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. To pass the ban, 24 of the 32
teams must approve.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said last month he believes the owners
will reach a consensus on the issue that involves both competitive
integrity and player safety. The league released a revised proposal
by the Packers on Monday that broadens the language to prohibit
pushing, pulling, lifting or encircling a runner by any offensive
player, not specific to quarterback assists. The penalty is 10
yards. This is what the rulebook stated 20 years ago, until the ban
was lifted because of the difficulty of enforcement.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has been leading the defense of the play
his team developed with the coinciding arrival of strong-legged
quarterback Jalen Hurts in 2020.
The NFL has no conclusive data supporting a connection between the
tush push and an injury risk increase, as Lurie noted at the last
league meetings in Florida. The Buffalo Bills are also a frequent
user and favor a ban for safety, though, as head coach Sean
McDermott said after the vote was tabled. The tush push, which has
also been dubbed the “Brotherly Shove” in a catchy and clever twist
on the Greek-to-English translation of Philadelphia, not only
assigns a player to push the backside of the quarterback for extra
power behind a tight nine-man line but sometimes involves a blocker
on the end pivoting to try to pull the ball carrier past the marker.
Health is only half of this debate, however. Entertainment is the
other.
While the Eagles have nearly perfected the play for fourth-and-1 or
1-yard line situations with well-chosen personnel and well-rehearsed
precision, it looks more like rugby than football.
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The logo for the NFL football NFC divisional playoff game between
the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams is visible on the
field on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt
Slocum, file)
The Packers, who lost to the Eagles in the first round of the
playoffs last season, have been among several teams voicing their
distaste for the evolution of the traditional quarterback sneak into
an all-out scrum. On the memo distributed by the NFL on Monday, the
reasons cited for the proposal are player safety and pace of play.
“It was controversial when the forward pass came out," Lurie said at
the last league meetings. “I think aestheticism is very subjective.
I’ve never judged whether a play looks OK.”
Regardless of the fate of the play, the fairness and fun of it are
sure to be talking points throughout the season, particularly
leading up to the Monday night game on Nov. 10 when the Packers host
the Eagles.
Both of those teams have a good chance to be in contention in the
loaded NFC for the playoffs, which could unfold a little differently
if a proposal by the Detroit Lions passes this week. Like the tush
push, a vote was tabled at the last gathering for further discussion
on altering the seeding rules to base the order strictly on overall
winning percentage rather than guaranteeing division winners the
first four spots in each conference.
In this case, division winners would no longer get the automatic
home game like the Los Angeles Rams did in January after finishing
10-7. Though wildfires forced the game to be moved to Arizona, the
Vikings had to hit the road despite going 14-3, one game behind the
Lions.
NFL owners will also consider from the competition committee several
adjustments on the onside kick with the goal of increasing the
recovery rate and decide whether to approve player participation in
flag football in the 2028 Summer Olympics.
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