## NFL Over Eagles' "Tush Push": League Circles Divided Amidst Controversy **News Title:** Is the NFL Over Eagles’ Tush Push? One Source: ‘Let’s Not Let Them Cheat At It’ **Publisher:** FOX Sports **Authors:** Henry McKenna, Ralph Vacchiano **Publication Date:** September 19, 2025 (as indicated by the article's content referencing "this past Sunday" and "this week") ### Executive Summary The controversial "tush push" or "Brotherly Shove" play, heavily utilized by the Philadelphia Eagles, is facing increased scrutiny and debate within NFL circles following its inconsistent execution and perceived officiating issues during the Eagles' recent win over the Kansas City Chiefs. While fans are reportedly turning against the play, opinions are divided among NFL scouts, executives, and coaches. A significant number of teams previously voted to ban the play, and concerns about its officiability and potential for "cheating" are resurfacing, potentially leading to another ban attempt in the offseason. ### Key Findings and Conclusions * **Inconsistent Execution and Officiating Concerns:** The Eagles' tush push plays against the Chiefs on "this past Sunday" yielded uncharacteristically inconsistent results, with multiple instances of offensive linemen appearing to jump offside. This has fueled criticism and raised questions about the play's officiability. * **Divided League Opinion:** While some within the NFL are critical, others believe the Eagles' execution was uncharacteristically sloppy in the recent game. The debate centers on whether the play itself is problematic or if it's a matter of teams executing it cleanly. * **Near Ban in Offseason:** The "tush push" was nearly banned in the offseason, with **22 out of 32 NFL teams** voting to prohibit it. The ban fell just **two votes shy** of ratification. * **Player Safety vs. Officiating:** The Packers initially proposed a ban based on player safety, but lacked concrete data to support the claim of increased danger. However, the current officiating challenges might provide a stronger argument for a ban in the future. * **Potential for Future Ban:** If the play continues to be difficult for officials to manage, or if it's perceived as being exploited through "cheating" (e.g., false starts), the discussion to ban it is likely to be revisited in the upcoming offseason. ### Key Statistics and Metrics * **22 out of 32 NFL teams** voted to ban the "tush push" in the offseason. * The ban fell **two votes shy** of ratification. * The Eagles converted the "tush push" **twice in three attempts** against the Los Angeles Rams in two matchups last season. ### Important Recommendations * **Eagles' Responsibility:** The article suggests it will be incumbent upon the Eagles to execute the "tush push" cleanly to avoid giving opponents of the play more leverage for a potential ban. * **League Office Consultation:** Rams head coach Sean McVay, a member of the league's competition committee, plans to consult with the league office to ensure clarity on how the play will be officiated in their upcoming game against the Eagles. ### Significant Trends or Changes * **Increased Fan Pushback:** Social media has been "ripe with pushback" on the play. * **Resurfacing of Concerns:** The Eagles' recent performance and the controversy surrounding it have brought the debate about the "tush push" back to the forefront of NFL discussions. ### Notable Risks or Concerns * **Player Safety:** A longtime coach expressed concern that the play is "lawless now" and someone, potentially a star player like Jalen Hurts, could get seriously injured, which would be detrimental to the NFL's brand and a team's Super Bowl aspirations. * **Officiating Difficulty:** Multiple sources, including a personnel executive and FOX Sports rules analyst Dean Blandino (mentioned in a linked article), suggest the play is "a hard play to officiate" or even "an impossible play to officiate." * **Perception of Cheating:** An AFC executive voiced concern that teams, particularly the Eagles who have "mastered" the play, should not be allowed to "cheat at it." ### Material Financial Data No specific financial data is presented in this news article. ### Verbatim Quotes * "I don’t love the play, but they usually run it a lot cleaner than that. If they were offsides every time they ran it, there would’ve been a lot more support to ban it [in the offseason]." – An NFC scout * "I think the officials just blew it on that play. I mean, how do you not see the movement? They just missed it." – Ralph Vacchiano (referencing an NFC scout's opinion) * "If guys are moving early, then you’ve got to call that. So, [the NFL will] go back and look at that and see what their evaluation is of it. It could be different than mine. Mine, I felt like the guys were moving." – Chiefs head coach Andy Reid * "They have obviously mastered it, but let’s not let them cheat at it at the same time." – An AFC executive * "It could [mean the beginning of the end for the tush push]. I mean if the officials feel they can’t officiate it correctly, then the discussion has to be revisited on allowing it." – An AFC executive * "I hope so. The refs even admit it’s an impossible play to officiate." – An NFL personnel executive * "It’s lawless now. Someone’s going to get hurt. Like, Jalen Hurts is going to get hurt. And then where are we? The Eagles are a playoff team, but they’re not going to win a Super Bowl [without Hurts]. It’s not good for the brand of the NFL." – A longtime coach in the league * "I will acknowledge that I don’t believe in being a hater because the Eagles and the Bills do it better than we were capable of. If we executed it at that kind of level, we would probably be doing it as well. But I think what it revolves around is saying we’re not in the game or in the business of pushing other people or assisting or helping the runner. We’ve allowed that into the game." – Rams head coach Sean McVay ### Contextual Interpretation The article highlights a growing tension around the "tush push" in the NFL. The play, characterized by offensive linemen pushing the ball carrier forward, has become a signature of the Eagles' offense. However, its effectiveness, coupled with perceived rule bending and officiating challenges, has led to significant opposition. The fact that **22 out of 32 teams** previously voted against it underscores the widespread concern. The recent game against the Chiefs, where the Eagles' execution was reportedly flawed and officials may have missed penalties, has reignited this debate. The article suggests that if the play continues to be a source of officiating controversy, the likelihood of a ban in the next offseason will increase, regardless of the initial player safety arguments. The "two votes shy" statistic is crucial, indicating a very close call in the previous attempt to ban it.
Is the NFL Over Eagles’ Tush Push? One Source: ‘Let’s Not Let Them Cheat At It’
Read original at FOX Sports →Fans may have started to turn on the tush push, but the reaction isn't as one-sided within NFL circles.Late in the Eagles' win over the Chiefs this past Sunday, Philadelphia ran the tush push multiple times — to uncharacteristically inconsistent results. That is, it didn't work 100 percent of the time.
It also appears that Philadelphia's offensive line jumped offside multiple times.Social media was ripe with pushback on the play, which was almost banned in the offseason. Here's what our reporters heard from NFL scouts, executives and coaches.The video of the Eagles' guards jumping offsides on the tush push might add fuel to the critics’ fire, but not everyone is convinced it’s as damning as it seems."
I don’t love the play, but they usually run it a lot cleaner than that," an NFC scout told me. "If they were offsides every time they ran it, there would’ve been a lot more support to ban it [in the offseason]."The scout also disagreed with FOX Sports rules analyst Dean Blandino, who said during the game broadcast that the tush push is "a hard play to officiate."
"I think the officials just blew it on that play," the scout said. "I mean, how do you not see the movement? They just missed it." – Ralph VacchianoREAD MORE: Dean Blandino: '50-50' if Tush Push Survives After Eagles-Chiefs ControversyThere’s no shortage of angst surrounding the tush push this week.
And it’s not just on social media. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid carefully explained after the game that he felt like Philly's offensive linemen were going early. Reid doubled down on that sentiment on Monday."If guys are moving early, then you’ve got to call that," the K.C. coach said. "So, [the NFL will] go back and look at that and see what their evaluation is of it.
It could be different than mine. Mine, I felt like the guys were moving. That’s why I was griping about it on the sideline there with the officials. … They’ll have a chance to evaluate it, and I’ll be curious to see what the response is."Around the league, many teams are just as curious to hear the league's response.
Remember, 22 of the 32 NFL teams voted to ban the play in the offseason, falling just two votes shy of ratification."They have obviously mastered it, but let’s not let them cheat at it at the same time," an AFC executive told me.During the NFL's biggest game of the regular season, the tush push was front and center as the Eagles beat the Chiefs.
(David Eulitt/Getty Images) Could this mean it's the beginning of the end for the tush push?"It could," the executive said. "I mean if the officials feel they can’t officiate it correctly, then the discussion has to be revisited on allowing it."During the offseason, the Packers proposed a tush push ban on the basis of player safety, but there weren’t hard numbers to legitimize the claim that the play is more dangerous than any other football play.
That's part of why the vote fell short at the owners meetings in May.But if this play continues to be out of control of the officials — or at least appears to be — that might make a more convincing case next offseason. It’ll be on the Eagles to play it cleanly so they don’t give opponents of the "Brotherly Shove" any more leverage.
– Henry McKennaAre we witnessing the beginning of the end of the tush push?"I hope so," an NFL personnel executive told me. "The refs even admit it’s an impossible play to officiate."I’ve never liked the ‘pushing’ being allowed," the executive added. "But I don’t think the Eagles have any more advantage than anybody else, except they do it the best.
Credit to them."A longtime coach in the league also thinks the tush push should be disallowed, saying it’s a safety concern even though the data up to this point hasn’t shown an uptick in injuries with the play."It’s lawless now," the coach told me. "Someone’s going to get hurt. Like, Jalen Hurts is going to get hurt.
And then where are we? The Eagles are a playoff team, but they’re not going to win a Super Bowl [without Hurts]. "It’s not good for the brand of the NFL." – Eric D. WilliamsThe Los Angeles Rams are the next team that must deal with the controversial play when they hit the road to face the Eagles on Sunday.
Rams head coach Sean McVay, a member of the league’s competition committee for the first time this year, has been a vocal opponent of the play."I will acknowledge that I don’t believe in being a hater because the Eagles and the Bills do it better than we were capable of," McVay said earlier this year, when asked why he opposed the play.
"If we executed it at that kind of level, we would probably be doing it as well."But I think what it revolves around is saying we’re not in the game or in the business of pushing other people or assisting or helping the runner. We’ve allowed that into the game."The Eagles converted the tush push twice in three attempts against the Rams in two matchups last season, with Los Angeles jumping offsides on a fourth-down attempt.
McVay said after reviewing film from Philadelphia’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs last week, he would check with the league office before his team’s game on Sunday to make sure the play is being officiated correctly."Anytime that you see certain things, you have conversations with the league office to make sure you’re understanding, how is it officiated?"
McVay told reporters earlier this week. "How can we coach it? I did see some of those things last night (Sunday) and that’ll obviously be a big talking point because they’re such a damn good team and it’s such a successful play for them."Those are conversations with the league office, but I’m sure they’ll have the same ones and operate within the confines of not getting a little bit of a rolling start before the ball is snapped."
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