After heated debate over the “tush push” in 2025, NFL competition committee co-chairman Rich McKay said Sunday that he does not expect an attempt to ban the controversial short-yardage play.
“There’s no team proposal that I’ve seen from it,” McKay said following a day of meetings at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. “So, I wouldn’t envision it. But you never know.”
A proposal to ban the tush push fell short of the required 24 votes at the NFL owners meetings in May 2025, with ESPN reporting the final vote was 22-10.
Critics have cited several issues with the rugby-style play, from aesthetics to competitive reasons.
Also nicknamed the “Brotherly Shove” when deployed by Philadelphia, the play typically features Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts taking the snap in short-yardage situations and driving his legs forward while being pushed from behind.
Green Bay was the team that drafted the proposal, reportedly at the suggestion of the NFL, citing player safety concerns. The league has not publicized health data supporting that assertion.
The Packers’ initial proposal in February 2025 was to ban offensive players immediately pushing a teammate who is lined up directly behind the snapper and taking the snap, ESPN reported. The owners meeting in March 2025 tabled the discussion.
Green Bay amended the proposal to prohibit players from pushing all ball carriers, no matter their location on the field, which was a league rule until 2005, per ESPN’s report. The revision did not pass by two votes at the May meeting.
There were additional concerns raised in the 2025 season, with officials reportedly having been instructed to place more emphasis on ensuring the offensive line doesn’t move until the ball is snapped.
According to ESPN, the Eagles ran the play 27 times and the Buffalo Bills 17 to lead the league among 112 total in 2025 — compared to 101 total in 2024. Teams were successful on converting first downs on 82% of the plays from 2022-24 and 76.8% last season, per ESPN.
McKay also said Sunday that there have been discussions about how teams are seeded in the playoffs but he hasn’t seen a proposal. He also said that the competition committee has talked about the catch rule, which was in focus last season, especially in the playoffs, for how the rule was applied.
“Our technology today is extraordinary, so the ability to go frame by frame and slow things down, it’s a great solution for a lot of things,” McKay said, “but it does present challenges for others. We need to make sure your rules, as written, don’t just match up (with) what’s on the field but how it’s looked at in replay.”
–Field Level Media
