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ARTICLE · 28 MAY 2025

Push Comes To Shove: NFL Keeps Controversial Play Alive

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.

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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

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