The NFL’s owners are getting ready to convene this week in Eagan, Minnesota. They’re once again targeting the even more controversial “tush push” play for more attention, one that the Philadelphia Eagles have widely perfected. In this wedge, two or three players line up behind the ball handler. Together, they drive him through the first-down marker or into the end zone. The Philadelphia Eagles, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, have transformed this strategy into a powerful offensive weapon.
Over the last three seasons, the Eagles have run the tush push play for 27 touchdowns. More incredibly, they’ve picked up a remarkable 92 first downs in that span. The effectiveness of this play has raised questions among players and coaches alike, leading to ongoing discussions about its legality in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu recently offered a window into that violent gameplay. He articulated it best during an appearance on “Good Morning Football” on NFL Network. My personal opinion? I think they should ban it, he said. Luvu even described the play as a “cheapo” tactic, likening it to a rugby scrum.
“But it’s kind of like a cheapo play. … That’s pretty much a scrum in rugby. That’s how I kind of look at it.” – Frankie Luvu
The idea to prohibit or change the rules around the tush push play was officially introduced by the Green Bay Packers. That proposal was laid to rest at last month’s NFL annual meeting in Palm Beach, Florida. For any change to take effect, at least 24 votes of team owners will be necessary.
The argument against the tush push play goes beyond whether it’s effective or not. Safety concerns has been another important and critical element that has augmented the debate. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged these issues, stating that “there are safety issues that are being considered.” Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images Jeffrey Lurie, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, recently came to the play’s defense. He stressed that there is no evidence that it is a risk.
“There’s no data that shows it isn’t a very safe play, or else we wouldn’t be pushing the tush push.” – Jeffrey Lurie
In addition to Luvu’s comments, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley weighed in on the controversy prior to this year’s Met Gala. In response to critics of the tush push, he challenged them to step up their defensive game.
“Get better at stopping it.” – Saquon Barkley
At this intersection of conversations comes the most ambitious infrastructure proposal yet. It’s a look at one aspect of the upcoming player participation in flag football’s debut at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Under this proposal, there would be just one player from each NFL team while they compete internationally, representing their respective countries. Further, each club gets to select one international player to be added to this draft process.
As NFL owners gather in Minnesota to hash out these rule changes, we’ll see how things shake out with the tush push debate. Whether the play was effective and its impact on player safety has become the focus of a major ongoing debate. As teams prepare for the upcoming season, this issue will likely remain a focal point of controversy within the league.
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