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Over a few short years, the "Tush Push" has become a polarizing play among NFL circles. The "virtually unstoppable" modification of the quarterback sneak has been a go-to for the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles, and a few teams have taken exception.
Now, the league will vote on whether the play will be legal in the future.
With NFL officials converging in Minneapolis for owners meetings in May, a vote on the play's legality is expected to be held by Wednesday, May 21. The Tush Push is perhaps the most notable issue that will be voted on, as it could make a big difference for one of the league's most elite teams.
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The Sporting News will keep you up to date on the vote and if the Tush Push will be legal in 2025 and beyond.
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Will the NFL ban the Tush Push?
The NFL will soon vote on whether the Tush Push will be banned.
While the traditional quarterback sneak cannot be banned, the league can ban the formation that allows two players to line up behind the quarterback to push him forward.
Why does the NFL want to ban the Tush Push?
At least one NFL team has submitted a formal proposal to ban the Tush Push, according to Troy Vincent, the league's executive vice president of football operations. That team was revealed to be the Packers.
Green Bay president Mark Murphy said, "There is no skill involved and it is almost an automatic first down on plays of a yard or less. I would like to see the league prohibit pushing or aiding the runner on this play."
At the NFL combine, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst cited injury concerns from the play, though the NFL said there is no data suggesting the play caused a single injury during the 2024 season.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is also for banning the play, saying it should have been illegal "three years ago."
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What is the Tush Push?
The Tush Push is a modernized — or modified — version of the traditional quarterback sneak. Rather than having the quarterback run forward for a first down or touchdown, two players line up behind the quarterback to help push him forward for the needed yardage.
More often than not, the play is employed when a team needs a yard or less to pick up the first down or touchdown. It is typically called on third or fourth down.
— ESPN (@espn) September 17, 2024Tush Push success rate
The NFL average success rate for the play is 76 percent, according to a September report from ESPN.
Other teams do not experience the rate of success that the Eagles do. The Bills and Ravens are two notable teams that also employ the play.
Eagles Tush Push success rate
The Eagles converted 81.3 percent of their attempts in 2024, per Fox Sports, but there is more to that number. While the team was 39-of-48 on the Tush Push, they followed eight of the nine failed attempts with a successful Tush Push eight times, per CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr.
The #Eagles were 39-of-48 (81.3%) converting the "tush push" into a first down or touchdown this season.
Of the 9 times they failed, they followed with a 1st down/TD on the next play using a tush push 8 times.
Essentially they were 47-of-48 (97.9%).
Philadelphia converted 83 percent of their attempts in 2023 and converted over 90 percent of their attempts during the 2022 NFL season.
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