The Philadelphia Eagles’ signature ‘tush push’ is set to be banned at the NFL’s owners meeting on Wednesday, according to NFL insiders.
The bombshell decision is likely to be pushed through despite the Eagles’ best efforts to defend the play, sending out former superstar Jason Kelce to represent the team and explain why it should be allowed.
NFL insider and The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini wrote on Wednesday morning: ‘Hours away from the owners’ vote surrounding the future of the tush push, I’m told both the league’s competition and players’ health and safety committees have voted to ban the play.
‘Despite the Eagles’ best efforts, the tush push is likely on its way out, sources say.’
The news came just as Kelce touched down in Minnesota to field questions from NFL owners about his own experiences of the controversial play.
On his New Heights podcast alongside brother Travis, Jason said: ‘I’m actually going to Minnesota. There were some things said at the last owners’ meeting… some of the owners and coaches hinted that the reason I stopped playing was because of the tush push, and that I got hurt on the tush push frequently.
The popular ‘tush push’ – used mainly by the Eagles – is set to be banned today, per reports
The play has been frequently and often successfully by the Eagles in short-yardage situations
‘I’m just going to answer any questions people have on my partaking in this play. I don’t care whether it gets banned or not. I think that at the end of the day, this is why you vote on things. If they vote to ban the tush push, the Eagles are still going to run quarterback sneak at a very high percentage.’
The Green Bay Packers – coincidentally one of the Eagles’ most intense rivals – have led the charge to ban the play over the past year, even changing the wording this summer in a refreshed bid to convince owners.
While the initial proposal in March referred to a ban on players pushing their teammate from behind ‘immediately at the snap,’ the new proposal does not specifically use the word ‘snap’ at all.
‘Prohibits an offensive player from pushing, pulling, lifting or assisting the runner except by individually blocking opponents for him,’ the proposal reads in the ‘Effect’ section.
The new proposal also entirely replaced one section – which referred specifically to the snap – with a more simplified line: ‘assist the runner except by individually blocking opponents for him.’
The play, which was used frequently by the Eagles en route to their Super Bowl win last year, typically sees several Eagles line up in the backfield and push quarterback Jalen Hurts from behind after he receives the snap.
The Packers need 24 of 32 teams to back their motion, and per the latest reports it appears they will get the numbers they need.
Philly and QB Jalen Hurts won a Super Bowl last year, beating the Chiefs in New Orleans
It was also reported on Wednesday morning that the Packers – and the other teams against the tush push – have a significant name in their corner: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweeted that Goodell is a ‘strong proponent of banning it.’
In his post, he added: ‘When Goodell pushes for change, it usually ends up happening.’
Fans are still awaiting confirmation of the results of the vote at the NFL owners’ meeting.
