The tush push appears to be on its way out of the NFL rulebook.
While it wasn’t addressed in March, changes are likely just two weeks away.
According to Mark Maske of The Washington Post, NFL owners are expected to review a revised proposal during their May 20–21 meeting in Minneapolis that would ban teammates from pushing or pulling a ballcarrier anywhere on the field.
The Packers had previously submitted a flawed proposal at the March meetings that only banned an “immediate” push of the snap recipient. Considering how the league encouraged the Lions to propose a new playoff seeding format, it’s fair to speculate whether the NFL also quietly collaborated with the Packers to target the tush push.
So far, the Packers haven’t filed their updated proposal, but it’s anticipated to be far broader — aiming to prohibit all forms of pushing the ballcarrier.
This would allow the NFL to eliminate the tush push without appearing to single out the Eagles. A more limited rule change, like banning pushes within the tackle box, would too obviously target Philadelphia.
Assuming the proposal is approved — and with the Commissioner reportedly in favor, it likely will be — here are two predictions:
First, referees probably won’t consistently enforce the rule against downfield pushing. While it may draw a couple of penalties early on, over time it’s likely to be ignored — much like the pulling rule, which has been overlooked for years. (The last flag for assisting a runner was reportedly thrown in the 1991 playoffs.)
Second, the Eagles will continue using quarterback sneaks frequently. The play will still resemble its current form, minus the tight cluster of players pushing from behind. And it will remain effective, as its success hinges more on the front-line push than the help from the rear.
Ultimately, this effort makes the league seem petty. One team has mastered a short-yardage tactic. Other teams can’t stop it. So instead of adapting, the league is citing vague concerns about safety and aesthetics to remove the Eagles’ most effective play.
Hopefully, the rule change won’t have much impact — and that other teams will either learn to defend it or adopt it themselves.
And perhaps the Packers will be rewarded in some way for becoming the face of the anti–tush push movement. It’s doubtful coach Matt LaFleur wanted that role — and likely he had little to do with it.
