Packers submit revised proposal to ban tush push play ahead of Spring League Meeting

By Grant Gordon

On the eve of the Spring League Meeting, an alteration has been introduced to one of the most anticipated decisions on a potential rule change.

A revised proposal to ban the tush push play has been submitted by the Green Bay Packers, the NFL announced Monday.

A discussion and potential vote on the fate of the tush push is expected this week after it was tabled during the Annual League Meeting on April 1.

In the updated proposal, pushing or pulling a runner “in any direction at any time” or lifting him to his feet would be banned, which offers a broader stance harkening back to the ruleset from the league’s start through 2005, as noted by NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero. Therefore, if passed, the tush push would be banned along with any play in which a runner is pushed, pulled or lifted. Hence the proposal is now purposed as banning “assisting the runner.”

Conversations at the annual league meeting focused on reverting back to language that existed previously and the revision reflects that, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported.

The tush push, a play run with overwhelming success by the Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts, is a variation of the QB sneak. In short-yardage situations, Hurts, generally lining up with one foot forward and one back to get more of a push, lines up with two to three teammates behind him and they will often aid in pushing him forward from behind — hence the tush push moniker or “Brotherly Shove,” as it’s also been known.

Other teams have tried the play, but none with the success rate of the Eagles.

Those looking to ban it have argued it’s a dangerous play, though there’s been no substantial data to support that. The revised proposal still reads that the reason behind the proposal is “player safety,” along with “pace of play.”

The tush push amendment was one of three announced in Monday’s league memo.

A rule proposal on procedures for free kicks and another on postseason seeding have also been adjusted.

The seeding proposal by the Detroit Lions has now been altered to reflect that the division champion with the best record would be seeded No. 1 and thereafter the remaining six seeds would be determined strictly by record, regardless of division finish.

The free kick (kickoff, safety kick or onside kick) proposal, which is designed to increase the number of onside attempts, was tweaked to adjust the amount of players set up on restraining lines and in setup zones for kickoffs and safety kicks, while also adding that teams can declare an onside kick at any point in the game when trailing, not just in the fourth quarter.

The Spring League Meeting takes place Tuesday and Wednesday.