One of the biggest stories in the NFL recently has been a proposal to ban the infamous “tush push” play, which is frequently used by the Philadelphia Eagles. On Monday evening, Dianna Russini reported that the Green Bay Packers were the team behind the proposal.
The news sparked a wave of reactions, including from Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson, who responded to Russini’s tweet with a simple laughing emoji.
Aside from the Eagles, the only other NFL team known to consistently use a variation of the tush push is the Buffalo Bills. With a quarterback like Josh Allen—whose large frame allows him to gain an extra 2-3 yards on sneaks—it would make sense for Buffalo to utilize the play as often as Philadelphia.
As the NFL Combine kicked off this week, Bills head coach Sean McDermott addressed the media, and the tush push debate came up. According to Alex Brasky, McDermott acknowledged the injury risks associated with the play and emphasized that player health and safety should remain a top priority.
Sean McDermott makes a valuable point about the tush push play
This play has sparked a major debate about whether it should be permitted. With most of the 22 players on the field colliding at once, the risk of multiple injuries on a single play is a valid concern—especially when a team’s star quarterback is involved and could easily get hurt.
The Bills have had success executing their version of the tush push, but they struggled to make it work in the AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs. Sooner or later, an injury will occur that could significantly impact a team’s season, whether it happens on the offensive or defensive line or to the quarterback.
Although it’s not a widespread discussion at the moment, the Packers have reignited talks about potentially banning the tush push. However, unless a clear pattern of injuries emerges, it’s likely to remain a part of the game for now.