Sometimes football is a game of inches. Which team will get that one extra yard?
In recent years, no team has answered that question better than the Philadelphia Eagles. And thanks to a vote at the NFL’s spring meeting on Wednesday, May 21, they’ll get to keep using their most effective weapon for at least another season: the much-debated tush push.
The play, officially known as a quarterback sneak with added manpower, involves the quarterback being physically shoved forward by his teammates to gain critical short yardage. It's been described as part football, part rugby scrum—and while it's wildly effective for the Eagles, it's also been a lightning rod for criticism.
But after months of heated debate, the NFL has rejected a proposed ban on the play, with a vote tally of 22–10—just two votes shy of the 24 required to outlaw it. The proposal came from the Green Bay Packers, whose frustrations may be rooted in a particularly memorable failure to stop the play themselves.
The Argument Against the Tush Push
Critics, including Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, argue that the tush push strays too far from traditional football. They say it resembles rugby more than the NFL's classic, structured gameplay. More importantly, some raise concerns about player safety, especially in high-contact trenches where bodies collide with intense force.
Yet for all the concern, no credible evidence has emerged showing that the tush push results in more injuries than other plays. In fact, according to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and former center Jason Kelce—who both campaigned hard to preserve the play—data suggests it’s actually safer than most other short-yardage options.
“If it weren’t safe, we wouldn’t be pushing the tush push,” Lurie said plainly.
The Argument For Keeping It
Supporters of the play have a simple counter: if it’s legal and it works, stop complaining and start stopping it.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley summed it up bluntly:
“If you don’t like it, get better at stopping it. Everybody tries it, we’re just super successful at it.”
And he’s right—sort of. Many teams have attempted to mimic the Eagles' success with the tush push, but few have come close. According to ESPN, the Eagles are in a league of their own when it comes to this play. Since 2022:
They've run more than a third of all tush push attempts in the NFL.
They've scored over half of all touchdowns using the play—27 in total.
No other team is close. The Bills are second with just 11.
In key moments—like the NFC Championship and the Super Bowl—the Eagles leaned on the tush push to extend drives and finish in the end zone. It’s not just a gimmick. It’s become a strategic edge.
Why Common Sense Prevailed
The NFL is always balancing tradition, innovation, and player safety. The push to ban the tush push raised valid questions—but ultimately, there wasn’t enough data, consensus, or urgency to warrant a rule change. It wasn’t unsafe, it wasn’t illegal, and it wasn’t exclusive to one team.
The real issue? Execution. The Eagles just happen to execute it better than anyone else.
The NFL thrives on creativity, toughness, and competitive advantage. Banning the tush push would have been like banning the wildcat formation, or the no-huddle offense—moves that challenged defenses until they adapted. That’s football. It evolves. And so do the teams that win.
What's Next?
The Eagles didn’t waste time celebrating. After the vote, the team posted a photo on social media of the now-infamous push against Green Bay, stamped with the words “Push On.”
That’s exactly what they’ll do—on 3rd and inches, 4th and goal, and anywhere else they need to move the chains. The rest of the NFL has their answer. Now it’s time to figure out a new question:
