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- Packers tush push ban, explained
- Why did the Packers try to ban the tush push?
- Was the tush push banned?
- Why is the tush push so controversial?
- Tush push ban vote
The tush push is one of the most controversial plays in the NFL, and it came close to being banned in the offseason.
In the spring, the Green Bay Packers led a push to get the tush banned, even bringing their proposal to a vote. As expected, the Philadelphia Eagles vehemently opposed the effort, successfully keeping the tush push in the game for the 2025 season.
Since then, the play has only grown more controversial, with calls for it to be banned continuing to mount. Here’s a breakdown of the Packers’ failed attempt to eliminate the tush push from the NFL.
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Packers tush push rule, explained
In the offseason, the Packers were the team to propose a rule change that would ban the tush push in the NFL. Any potential rule change must be introduced by a team before it can be discussed and voted on, making the Packers the organization that brought the idea of banning the tush push to the table.
Green Bay submitted an initial proposal at the beginning of the offseason but revised it before the proposal went to vote. The language on the Packers' proposal would change the rule to make it so "offensive players cannot assist the runner except by individually blocking opponents for him," according to ESPN.
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Packers' tush push ban explained
While several teams wanted to ban the tush push, the Packers were the ones to put a proposal on the table. According to general manager Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay’s primary concern was player safety in the play.
"I think the medical professionals of the league had high concerns about putting players in a position to (suffer) catastrophic injuries," Gutekunst said. "I think this is something that needs to be discussed and we need to be proactive about it rather than reactive."
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Tush push: banned?
The tush push wasn't banned, although the league did come close from taking the play out of the game. NFL owners voted in the offseason on whether or not to ban the tush push, and that proposal fell short of the necessary number of votes needed for it to pass.
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Tush push controversy explained
There are several reasons why the tush push is controversial among NFL fans.
First, the Eagles’ execution of the play has been dominant over the past several seasons, and some critics may simply want it banned because Philadelphia is so effective running it.
There are other sources of controversy as well. In 2025, officials have struggled to properly officiate the play, sometimes failing to call false starts on Philadelphia while also blowing the play dead too soon—before Jalen Hurts’ progress was stopped or he was down by contact.
Some also argue the play poses a player safety risk, which was the main reason the Packers proposed banning it. The Eagles, however, maintain that the play is safe despite these concerns.
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Tush push ban vote passed
While the owners voted on whether to ban the tush push, that vote ultimately fell short of the 24 votes needed for the proposal. Ultimately, 22 owners voted in favor of the proposal, but 10 owners chose to vote no, which was enough to keep the proposal from getting passed.
The 10 teams that chose to vote no on the proposal included the Eagles, the Baltimore Ravens, the Cleveland Browns, the Detroit Lions, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Miami Dolphins, the New England Patriots, the New Orleans Saints, the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans.
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