PALM BEACH, Fla. — A decision on the future of the tush push has been pushed until next month.
NFL team owners had been set to vote on the Green Bay Packers’ proposal to ban the play that helped the Philadelphia Eagles win one Super Bowl and reach another, but it was tabled until May.
Owners approved modifying the kickoff rule, expanding replay assist and revising overtime rules, along with other changes.
Postponing the tush push vote means the debate will continue while teams gather more information. Proponents of the play and those who oppose it presented strong arguments, while the league’s medical experts expressed safety concerns.
NFL competition committee Chairman Rich McKay stressed the issues surrounding the play extend beyond safety because there aren’t enough data to indicate it’s dangerous. The league already has said no injuries have been reported on a tush push.
“There are definitely some people that have health and safety concerns, but there’s just as many people that have football concerns,” McKay said. “So I wouldn’t say it was because of one particular health and safety video or discussion.
“It was much more about the play, the aesthetics of the play, is it part of what football has been traditionally, or is it more of a rugby play? All those types of discussions. Health and safety is still there because of potential, but I wouldn’t go beyond that.”
The league prohibited pushing or pulling a player before a rule change in 2004. McKay said the Packers asked to pull the proposal so they could reintroduce the previous language, study it and bring it up for discussion for a vote at the May meetings.
It takes 24 of 32 votes to approve rule changes.
“It went to many different directions beyond health and safety,” McKay said of the 30- to 40-minute conversation. “Just the traditionalness of the play, the idea that you could push another player, the idea that we prohibit pushing on the defense but we don’t prohibit it on the offense. It went in all those directions.”
As for changes that did pass, regular-season overtime rules now will match those in the playoffs and both teams will get a possession even if the offense scores a touchdown on the opening drive. The proposal was amended to make overtime 10 minutes, not 15.
Owners also approved a proposal from the competition committee to allow replay assist to consult on-field officials to overrule objective calls such as facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles or tripping if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. Replay also would be able to overturn a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalty if video showed the defender made contact with the ball.
Replay assist could wipe out a foul only if it was called incorrectly, but it will not be used to throw a flag if a penalty wasn’t called.
The dynamic kickoff rule becomes permanent, with touchbacks moving to the 35-yard line instead of the 30.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ proposal to allow teams to have one video or phone call with no more than five prospective unrestricted free agents during the two-day negotiation period was approved. Teams now can make travel arrangements with such players upon agreeing to terms.
Also, owners approved a rule to permit teams to prepare kicking footballs (“K-Balls”) before game day, similar to the process permitted for game footballs.
The Detroit Lions’ proposal for playoff seeding to be based on winning percentage also was tabled for May. The proposal to stop automatic first downs from being awarded on defensive holding and illegal contact penalties didn’t pass.
The Eagles’ version of the quarterback sneak sparked the most intense discussions. Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott was among those leading the push to get rid of it, even though his team used it more than any team other than the Eagles.
“Even though there is not significant data out there to this point, my biggest concern is the health and safety of the players, first and foremost,” McDermott said Monday. “It’s two things. It’s force, added force, No. 1, and then the posture of the players, being asked to execute that type of play, that’s where my concern comes in.
“I’m not a doctor. I’m not going to get too deep into that situation there, in terms of how much data, how much sample. I don’t think that’s really always the best way to go. There is other data out there that suggests when you’re in a posture like we’re talking about, that can lead to serious injury. I think being responsible and proactive in that regard is the right way to go.”
The Eagles began using the play in short-yardage situations in 2022. Two or three players line up behind quarterback Jalen Hurts and push him forward. Several other teams, including the Bills, began using it, but no team has matched the Eagles’ success rate.
“Tough play to stop, but then you’re listening to that and the medical side and you probably could go either way with it,” said Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, whose team lost 40-22 to the Eagles in the Super Bowl. “But I would say if it’s putting a player in a bad position, then you probably have to do something about it. But if it’s not, it’s a heck of a play.”
