The Green Bay Packers were the team to formally propose the ban of the “tush push” play in February of this year. The proposal made a stir online and among fellow NFL teams, and ultimately, did not succeed. Three months later, the proposal officially failed; with 24-8 supermajority necessary to enact the proposal, only 22 teams supported it, meaning the controversial play will live on.
Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Tush Push Ban
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) lines up for a quarterback sneak at the goal line against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first quarter in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Green Bay Packers’ Proposal to Stop the Tush Push Fails
Almost every NFL fan is familiar with the “tush push” at this point. The controversial play gained mainstream popularity in 2022, when the Philadelphia Eagles consistently used the rushing play to overwhelming effectiveness in short-yardage situations. The play involves a strong offensive line, a powerful QB to rush the ball a short distance, and multiple players pushing the QB from behind to force the ball forward.
The proposal submitted by the Packers “prohibits an offensive player from pushing, pulling, lifting, or assisting the runner except by individually blocking opponents for him.”
Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles
Nov 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) against the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to the proposal in late February, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expressed his disdain for the play. Furthermore, team president Mark Murphy had made public comments about his dislike of the tush push, sentiments that many fans also agree with.
“I am not a fan of this play. There is no skill involved and it is almost an automatic first down on plays of a yard or less…”
Given the staggering effectiveness of the play, which no teams have been able to stop with any consistency, NFL front offices and fans alike have soured on watching the play. Those on the other side of the issue point out that there is nothing inherently illegal about the play and that teams simply need to learn to find a better strategy to combat it.
Ultimately, not enough owners were on the side of Murphy and the Packers, and the vote failed by two votes.
BREAKING: The Packers’ proposal to ban the tush push did not receive the required 75% support from the NFL’s owners to pass, per source.
The tush push remains alive. pic.twitter.com/CVEhTjUuAO
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) May 21, 2025
The Tush Push Play Will Continue As Packers’ Proposal Falls Short
In the aftermath of the vote, the Eagles promptly “trolled” the rest of the league by posting a compilation of tush push plays to YouTube.
THIS LEAGUE!!!!
Eagles post 26 minutes of the Tush Push on their YouTube channel pic.twitter.com/vQdhWOW5no
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) May 21, 2025
Stephen A. Smith says he “doesn’t mind” the play not being banned, saying that the teams should be focusing on stopping the play on the field as opposed to on the paperwork side of things. He implied that teams like the Packers show “a lack of competitive fervor” for attempting to ban the play instead of just finding a solution to it on the field.
Tush Push, Philadelphia Eagles
Nov 5, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) picks up yardage a first down with a push from wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) and tight end Dallas Goedert (88) against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
While the issue continues to be divisive online, it is only a matter of time before one NFL team figures out a way to at least somewhat combat the tush push. In the meantime, the Eagles will continue to use the play whenever they find themselves in third-and-short, or fourth-and-short, or goal-to-go situations,
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