The Green Bay Packers have made a lot of headlines recently as the tush push ban proposal that they posited officially failed earlier this week. While it has led to a lot of renewed discussions about the play, with the Packers organization and fanbase taking a lot of hits on social media, one NFL expert believes that there is something more to the origins of the proposal that have less to do with the Packers and more to do with the league office.
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 Tush Push Ban Attempt Ends in Failure
The drama around the tush push, a play that most NFL fans are now aware of, reached new heights earlier this week after a proposal to effectively ban the play, posited by the Green Bay Packers, was voted on. The vote failed, leaving the tush push a legal strategy. With 24 required votes, only 22 were garnered, leaving the proposal rejected.
More and more news is coming out about the behind-the-scenes drama of the proceedings. The Philadelphia Eagles, the team that popularized the controversial tush push, had several key personnel involved in the debate. Former center Jason Kelce reportedly passionately spoke to owners and defended the play, while Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie also made some viral remarks about it.
Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl LIX, Green Bay Packers
Feb 10, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (left) and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (right) pose with the Vince Lombardi trophy at the Super Bowl LIX Winning Head Coach and Most Valuable Player press conference at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
As the vote has now failed, the Packers are a sort of laughing stock in discourse about it. The Eagles certainly took the opportunity to troll Green Bay. However, NBC’s Mike Florio believes there is a sort of conspiracy going on.
NBC Reports Green Bay Packers Were Encouraged to Submit Tush Push Proposal by the NFL
Florio has theorized that in truth, the proposal originated from the NFL league offices themselves reaching out to the Packers about starting a legislative process.
“This wasn’t a Packers idea. This wasn’t Mark Murphy and Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst sitting around one day and saying ‘what should we do about that tush push? You know, they should ban it. Let’s draft a proposal to ban it and let’s just see what happens.’… That’s not what happened folks. they want you to think that’s what happened”
Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy, left, and general manger Brian Gutekunst, middle, are shown before their game
Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy, left, and general manger Brian Gutekunst, middle, are shown before their game against the Houston Texans Sunday, October 20, 2024 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Florio cited a recent story of Detroit Lions president Rod Wood revealing that their proposal about playoff re-seeding, which has now been withdrawn, started when NFL officials approached the Lions with the idea. Florio believes a similar situation could have been the case with the Packers’ anti-tush push attempts.
“They want something, but they don’t want us to know they want something. So they go out and find a guinea pig to be the one to officially make the request.”
Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur looks on during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur looks on during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Florio said that the notion of the NFL operating in this “back room” style is far from ideal. While is is not confirmed that the NFL did speak with Green Bay about a ban prior to the proposal, there is evidence that the league is willing to engage in such tactics. Would they have done so in this case?
Maybe it is true that the Packers really are the biggest haters of the tush push and felt the need to do something about it. Or maybe Florio is right, and the NFL is using subterfuge to try and manipulate teams into achieving their desired outcome.
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