Tush push is the hottest topic at
the NFL league meetings
[April 01, 2025]
By ROB MAADDI
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Banning the “tush push” is gaining momentum.
Still, it'll take 24 of 32 votes to eliminate a play that’s become a
short-yardage staple for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia
Eagles.
NFL team owners, coaches and general managers are considering
several potential rule changes at this week's league meetings.
Nothing has garnered more attention than Philadelphia's version of
the quarterback sneak.
The Green Bay Packers issued the proposal to ban it, citing player
safety and pace of play.
Although NFL executive Troy Vincent said last month there have been
zero injuries reported as a result of the play, Buffalo Bills coach
Sean McDermott, a member of the NFL's competition committee, is
leading the push to get rid of it.
“I feel where I’m most concerned is, even though there is not
significant data out there to this point, my biggest concern is the
health and safety of the players, first and foremost,” McDermott
said on Monday. "It’s two things. It’s force, added force, No. 1,
and then the posture of the players, being asked to execute that
type of play, that’s where my concern comes in. ... I’m not a
doctor. I’m not going to get too deep into that situation there, in
terms of how much data, how much sample. I don’t think that’s really
always the best way to go. There is other data out there that
suggests when you’re in a posture like we’re talking about, that can
lead to serious injury. I think being responsible and proactive in
that regard is the right way to go.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who watched Jalen Hurts score on a tush push
to kick off Philadelphia's 40-22 rout of Kansas City in the Super
Bowl, sounded as if he might be on board with McDermott.
“Tough play to stop but then you’re listening to that and the
medical side and you probably could go either way with it," Reid
said. “But I would say if it’s putting a player in a bad position,
then you probably have to do something about it. But if it’s not,
it’s a heck of a play.”
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who is also a member of the
competition committee, wanted to hear more about the safety
concerns.
“I think the first time I saw it, I couldn’t believe that it was
legal because it was illegal on the field goal," Tomlin said. "That
being said, you hate to be against it because when people are
innovative, you want to respect that. And so there’s certainly been
some teams that have been more innovative than the rest of us in
that regard. And you hate to penalize them for that. But again, we
got into the discussion on the field goal block because of player
safety. And so that’s still remains to be a component of the
discussion.”
Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and Cleveland Browns coach Kevin
Stefanski said they don't want the play banned.
“It’s tough to punish a team for being really good at something,"
Ryans said.
Tampa Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles made it clear last month he
wouldn’t support a ban, either.
[to top of second column] |
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) lines up for the
goal line Tush Push play during the NFL championship playoff
football game against the Washington Commanders, Jan. 26, 2025, in
Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)
Other changes include making the dynamic kickoff
rule permanent and overhauling the playoff format.
The NFL competition committee has recommended sticking with the
kickoff rule that was redesigned last year and tweaking it to move
touchbacks to the 35-yard line in hopes of generating even more
returns.
The Detroit Lions proposed that playoff seeding should be based on
record instead of automatically placing division winners in the top
four spots.
“I'm a division purist," Tomlin said.
The committee also proposed an expansion of instant replay to allow
replay assist to consult on-field officials to overrule objective
calls such as facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact
to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles or tripping if there
was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. Replay
would also be able to overturn a roughing the kicker or running into
the kicker penalty if video replay showed the defender made contact
with the ball.
Abu Dhabi
NFL executive Peter O'Reilly said the league is considering
potentially playing a game in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United
Arab Emirates.
“We have more work to do there,” O'Reilly said.
The NFL will play seven international games in five countries this
upcoming season. The league is returning to Brazil, Mexico, Germany
and England while Ireland is set to host its first regular-season
game. The NFL previously announced a multiyear commitment to play
regular-season games in Melbourne, Australia, beginning in 2026.
Flex schedule
NFL owners approved flexing Sunday games to Thursday night with 21
days’ notice. Only one game was flexed over the past two seasons
when teams had to be informed with 28 days’ notice.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed.
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