Every team has that one play in their arsenal that they bring out to get the game in their favor. For the Philadelphia Eagles, the ‘Tush Push’ is just that. However, for some, it is almost like bringing a firearm to a knife fight. After all, the Eagles converted 28 of their 34 (82%) Tush Push attempts last season. Evidently showing how the majority of the teams are as inept at countering it. In the meantime, the Eagles have gone right up and almost perfected the play.
However, as great as this has been for the Eagles on the field, it has been the complete opposite off the field. Many teams have come up criticising this play, citing player safety. What’s more is that even the NFL joined the movement to ban the ‘Tush Push’ or the ‘Brotherly Shove’ as the Eagles call it. Ultimately, it was the Green Bay Packers who proposed a ban on the move, citing “player safety” and “pace of play“.
After their initial proposal in April, Green Bay sent a revision earlier this week. This revision effectively prohibits “an offensive player from pushing, pulling, lifting or assisting the runner except by individually blocking opponents for him.” This led to a series of meetings and a vote. It was during Wednesday’s meeting between the NFL team owners and executives that a heated debate ensued.
As per ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, it was Philadelphia Eagles’ owner Jeffrey Lurie who gave “an impassioned speech in defense of the play” that went on for approximately an hour. It is reported that Lurie, in his speech, also criticized NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent for supporting the ban.
NFL Chief Medical Officer Allen Sills also spoke out, reportedly, in detail on why the play should be banned. Sills also, during the meeting, commented that anyone who voted against the ban was putting quarterbacks’ lives in danger. According to Wickersham, a source told him that Sills “pulled out all the stops,” and that “he knew he needed to throw a Hail Mary.” The report also stated that Vincent criticized Lurie for a remark that he made.
If this was not enough screaming and fighting for a day, San Francisco owner, Jed York, joined in. Snapping at Lurie, York asked, “How much more s–t” Lurie needed to say in an already “tense” room.
After debating the topic heavily, the teams then went on to vote for or against the play. Deciding the fate of Eagles’ ‘almost unbeatable’ play. The vote was expected to cause some drama, irrespective of the result. After all, the NFL and the league teams had a lot at stake.
Eagles cause massive upset in fight against NFL
Going into the vote, the Eagles were on the back foot. And why wouldn’t they be? After all, the NFL was backing the ban and supporting the protesting teams. It was going to be a monumental task to even contest the task and win the vote. But one can call the Eagles persistent and as tough to defeat as the ‘Tush Push’ itself.
Despite the heavy opposition, the Eagles always fought back and garnered support, eventually causing a major upset. How, you ask? By winning the vote with 9 other teams supporting them. As per the rules, the motion needed 75% of the teams to be in favour of the ban. This translates to the fact that 24 teams would have needed to be in favor of the ban. However, as things turned out, only 22 teams voted in favor of the ban at the end of the day. Making it a major embarrassment for the Green Bay team.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Eagles, Browns, Ravens, Lions, Jaguars, Dolphins, Patriots, Saints, Jets, and Titans voted against the proposed ban. Almost immediately after winning the vote, the Eagles went online and uploaded a picture of a ‘Tush Push’ on Twitter. In a bid to diss the protesting teams, the Eagles even wrote, “Push On.” in the picture. Talk about being salty.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 21, 2025
One of the key reasons for the Eagles’ victory was Jason Kelce. After all, it was Kelce who accompanied the Eagles’ owner to the meeting to provide clarity on the play. Jason Kelce and Nick Sirianni played a major role outside the meeting room, too. With both of them doing interviews and talking to the press, supporting the play.
It seems the play is staying, for this season at least. But the debacle is far from over, and who knows we might not get to see the play come 2026.
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