In a decision that has sparked debate across the football
community, the NFL has opted not to ban the controversial
"tush push" play – at least for now. At the Spring
League Meeting on May 21, 2025, team owners voted 22-10 in favour
of banning the play, falling just two votes short of the 24
required to enact a rule change.
The tush push, which has been popularized by the Philadelphia
Eagles, involves the quarterback receiving the snap and being
physically pushed forward by teammates to gain short yardage
– typically for a first down or touchdown. The play was
pivotal in the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX victory and has become a
key feature of their offensive strategy.
The proposal to ban the play was spearheaded by the Green Bay
Packers. Initially, they sought to prohibit any immediate push of
the quarterback following the snap. However, the proposal was later
revised to prohibit offensive players from "pushing, pulling,
lifting, or assisting the runner – except by