NFL ‘Tush Push’ Is Here To Stay Amid Big Vote

The NFL’s “Tush Push” ban proposal did not receive enough votes from teams around the league to pass. 24 total votes were needed to ban it, but it only received around 21-22 votes, according to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz. The news comes as a surprise, as rumors were swirling around that the move was expected to be banned. 

The ‘Tush Push’ Is a Highly Debated Topic

For anyone who doesn’t know, the “Tush Push” is a specific play that is performed at the goal line where the quarterback takes a snap and is pushed into the end zone by his teammates. The Philadelphia Eagles are widely known for using this play the most out of any team in the league. 

The argument is that the play is seen as an easy exploit to get a touchdown, and a play that could be an easy way for a player to get injured. Think of the “Tush Push” as the quarterback taking a straight nosedive into the swimming pool while being pushed by his teammates. 

Four Teams Supported Keeping the Play

According to Diana Russini of “The Athletic,” the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Jets were the four teams that favored keeping the “Tush Push.” The proposal to ban the play was first proposed by the Green Bay Packers, who had their season end in the playoffs against the Eagles. 

Although the “Tush Push” seems like an easy way to get into the endzone, the Eagles are the only team in the league that has mastered it. Other teams have tried it with little success. 

The ‘Tush Push’ Is Not Run Very Often

According to ESPN, the Buffalo Bills and the Philadelphia Eagles ran the “Tush Push” more times in the last three seasons than the other 30 teams in the league combined. Other teams in the league must think that trying the play is a worse option from their playbook, or they’ve figured out their specific system is not made to run the play well. The majority of the league did vote for it to be removed, so many of the NFL owners think it doesn’t belong in the game or league entirely. 

Last Thoughts

The “Tush Push” lives to see another season. The reaction to the official announcement remains mixed, with some people taking the side that NFL teams need to learn how to defend the play, while others think it’s an unfair advantage to teams who can master it.