Banning the tush push and changes
to playoff seeding are among proposed NFL rule changes
[March 20, 2025]
By JOSH DUBOW
The Green Bay Packers have formally proposed a rule change to ban
the tush push and the Detroit Lions proposed that playoff seeding be
done based on record instead of automatically placing division
winners in the top four spots.
Teams made several other proposals released Wednesday that will be
added to additional ones made by the competition committee to be
considered at the league meetings later this month, including a
change to the overtime rule and the so-called legal tampering period
in free agency.
Any rule change must be approved by 24 out of 32 team owners.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said last month at the
scouting combine that his team wanted to ban the tush push, which is
a modified quarterback sneak where two or three teammates line up
behind the quarterback and push him forward to help him try to gain
the yardage necessary for a first down or touchdown.
Philadelphia has used the play successfully behind Jalen Hurts for
the past three seasons in short-yardage situations, including during
a 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. Other
teams have tried to use it as well but without the success of the
Eagles.
The proposed rule states that no offensive player may “immediately
at the snap, push or throw his body against a teammate, who was
lined up directly behind the snapper and received the snap, to aid
him in an attempt to gain yardage.” Doing so would result in a
10-yard penalty.
The playoff change proposal by the Lions would have led to
significant changes last season when Minnesota had to go on the road
for a wild-card game against the Rams despite winning four more
games than Los Angeles in the regular season. The Vikings would have
hosted a game as the third seed under the proposal.
The Chargers also went on the road as a wild-card team against
division-winning Houston despite having one additional win.
Under the proposed rule, the first tiebreaker among tied teams would
be based on winning the division.
The Eagles proposed a change in overtime rules to align it more like
the playoffs when each team is guaranteed an opportunity to score.
The proposal would extend regular-season overtime from 10 minutes to
15 and the game wouldn't end if the team that got the ball first
scored a touchdown.
[to top of second column] |
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is pushed over the
goal line by teammates to a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs
during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game,
Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez,
File)
League executive Troy Vincent said last month that
changes were needed to overtime rules to decrease the advantage of
winning the coin toss. Receiving the ball first has become more of
an advantage than before 2011, when overtime was sudden death.
Receiving teams won 56.8% of overtime games from 2017-24, up from
55.4% from 2001-11.
In other proposed changes:
—The Lions proposed that illegal contact and defensive holding
penalties would not give the offense an automatic first down.
—The Steelers proposed that teams would be allowed to have one video
call or phone call with prospective unrestricted free agents from
other teams and their agents during the two-day negotiating window
before the start of the league year. Currently teams are allowed to
talk only to agents during this period. It also would allow for
teams to arrange travel for prospective free agents as long as the
travel didn't start until after the league year.
—The Lions proposed that players put on injured reserve before or on
the day that rosters are cut to 53 shouldn't count on the 90-man
roster limit, unless they will be designated to return during the
season.
—Several clubs proposed allowing teams to prepare the special
kicking balls before the day of the game like they can with regular
balls.
—Washington proposed allowing teams to obtain scouting credentials
for games in Weeks 17 and 18 for potential playoff opponents in the
conference and requiring teams hosting wild-card games to grant
scouting credentials to any team in their conference that is in the
playoffs.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
