Despite offseason debates about potentially banning the “Tush Push” play that proved instrumental for the Eagles last season, it seems unlikely that the NFL will outlaw it. NBC’s Peter King believes the league and its Competition Committee may regret this decision.
In his latest Football Monday in America column, King expressed his concerns about the play. He highlighted that it isn’t a traditional football maneuver and warned that it could lead to serious injuries. During the Super Bowl, he noted a dangerous moment when Kansas City’s defensive lineman collided with Jalen Hurts in a way that could have resulted in a concussion. King questioned how long it would take for the league to address safety issues before a quarterback gets hurt.
“There are members within the committee and the survey who have expressed concerns about the safety implications of this play,” said McKay.
The NFL’s response may only come after an injury occurs, potentially affecting a high-profile player and prompting a reactive rule change.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts frequently utilized this play last season, where he would take the snap, lower himself, and push forward with a wall of teammates behind him. The Eagles succeeded 36 times out of 40 attempts, contributing to their third-ranked offense. Despite this success, the play has raised concerns among other teams.
The NFL’s Competition Committee is exploring a rule change to prohibit players from pushing the quarterback from behind. Discussions are ongoing, and a resolution may be presented for a vote at the Annual League Meeting in late March.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, unsurprisingly, supports keeping the play legal. At the NFL Combine, he praised the play’s technique and the enjoyment his team experienced in executing it. “We had a lot of fun with those plays, and I thought it was beneficial for the game,” Sirianni said, acknowledging his personal bias due to the play’s success with his team.