'Tush push' safe for 2026 as submitted NFL rule proposals do not include controversial play
This won't end the debate, but the NFL owners will not discuss the play when they meet next week.
Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles rushes on a tush push during the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) Michael Zagaris via Getty Images The tush push lives to see another season in the NFL. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter , the controversial play will not be discussed during next week’s NFL owner’s meetings.
Last month, Competition Committee co-chair Rich McKay said that no team had come forward with a proposal to alter or ban the play. That doesn’t mean the topic will go away forever. “I don’t know that it’s the end of the debate,” McKay said, via Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein .
“I think there’s still people who are concerned with the whole pushing element. ” Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season The play has drawn plenty of criticism, and multiple attempts to ban it, in recent years after teams — notably the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills — have found incredible success with it. Last season was incredibly contentious, and the Green Bay Packers pushed the proposed ban during offseason meetings in 2025.
But 10 teams ended up voting against that ban , and it was two votes short of passing. In order for a rule change, the NFL requires approval from at least 24 of its 32 franchise owners. Eagles owner Jeffrie Lurie was among those fighting to keep the play in the league during discussions last time around.