The NFL will decide on the fate of the play on Tuesday
ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler reported on Sunday night that the Green Bay Packers’ rule proposal of banning the “Tush Push,” a quarterback sneak play that the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles made famous, “has support within the competition committee.” Essentially, what the Packers are proposing is that teammates would not be allowed to push a quarterback forward on a quarterback sneak, something the Eagles have found great success with under quarterback Jalen Hurts, who once finished second in a Texas prep powerlifting meeting as a high schooler.
Per Kahler, two members of the Eagles’ front office, including general manager Howie Roseman, had an “animated” conversation with NFL head coaches Sean McVay and Sean McDermott, both members of the competition committee, about the rule proposal on Sunday.
At the moment, McVay (Rams), McDermott (Bills), Mike Tomlin (Steelers) and Todd Bowles (Buccaneers) are the only head coaches on the 10-man competition committee.
One of the roots of the rule change is the pace of play aspect. In the postseason, the Washington Commanders recorded one offsides and three encroachments against the Eagles, while Philadelphia lined up for their Tush Push play. Ultimately, the referee, Shawn Hochuli, threatened to award the Eagles a score if the Commanders committed another violation. Philadelphia finally scored on their sixth Tush Push attempt of the set of downs.
Interesting, McDermott and his Buffalo Bills were the only team other than the Eagles who ran the Tush Push more than five times last year, according to Kahler.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stated that the league is just looking for consistency on whether or not pushing is allowed, mentioning that linebackers aren’t allowed to shove defensive linemen around on extra point attempts.
Below is how the Packers’ proposal reads at the moment:
“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.”
The vote on the proposal is expected on Tuesday. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has stated to NFL Network that he expects three former Philadelphia coordinators currently in NFL head coaching roles, Arizona’s Jonathan Gannon, Indianapolis’ Shane Steichen and New Orleans’ Kellen Moore, to side with the Eagles on the Tush Push and help campaign their owners for the vote.