The Tush push is a play that has gotten more drama than any other in recent memory. The NFL is going through an evolution of sorts, and the changes the league is due to implement are mostly viewed positively. However, the tush push has split the opinions of not only the fans, but also the team owners, who put it to the vote on May 21, 2025. The annual Spring meeting of NFL team owners was the opportunity to table and vote on proposals for the league to implement in the season to come.
What’s the history of the tush push discussion in the NFL?
The tush push play gained notoriety after it became the Philadelphia Eagles’ signature play last year. They used the play more than any other team, with the Buffalo Bills being the other team that used it the most. The teams in the NFL did not take kindly to the success that the Eagles found when using the play. This led to the Green Bay Packers tabling a proposal to ban the play.
The proposal was discussed at an informal meeting for the NFL team owners. However, the Eagles made use of the right to table a motion to prolong the vote at the annual Spring meeting on May 21.
What’s the push tush discussion all about, and why are the Eagles the focus?
One of the reasons for the Eagles’ success in running the play came down to their offensive line, not to mention the fact that their quarterback, Jaylen Hurts, can squat 600 pounds easily. The Eagles have maintained a position that the play does not define the team, as they have a range of other successful plays. One wonders if they would have gotten so far without the tush push play?
In a recent press briefing, the players of the Philadelphia Eagles were asked about the vote due to take place. Most seemed uninterested as they are concerned with pre-season preparations that include some new locations in the calendar. Wide receiver A.J. Brown said, “I don’t have any thoughts on it, It’s only one yard,” maintaining the mystery of the vote in the balance.
Is the controversial tush push play a thing of the past?
The vote on the push tush came out to 10-22 against banning the play. This means that around two-thirds of NFL owners were in favor of the use of the continued use of the controversial move, and it has not been outlawed. To have been banned, 75% of the teams would have had to have voted in favor of the motion.
These teams voted to keep the tush push:
- Baltimore Ravens
- New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions
- Cleveland Browns
- New Orleans Saints
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Jets
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Miami Dolphins
These teams voted to ban it:
- Washington Commanders
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Buffalo Bills
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Denver Broncos
- Minnesota Vikings
- Green Bay Packers
- Chicago Bears
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Arizona Cardinals
- San Francisco 49ers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
How did the Philadelphia Eagles react to the outcome of the vote?
When the vote outcome was announced, the Eagles posted a graphic on X (formerly Twitter) of the tush push with the caption, “Push on.” They also posted 26 minutes of “tush push” highlights on YouTube in a cheeky display of celebration.
While the world’s football fans and players have mixed feelings about the new season and all the changes, the vote to eliminate the tush push rule from the NFL has been at the center of discussions. Now that the result is out, NFL policy-makers can move on to other issues on the agenda.
