Proposal to ban tush push in NFL fails by two votes, sources say - ESPN

Even the most powerful figures in the NFL were unable to stop the tush push.

A proposed ban of the tush push play that the Philadelphia Eagles have popularized did not receive enough votes at the spring meeting Wednesday in Eagan, Minnesota.

Before the vote, retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce and team owner Jeffrey Lurie spoke to the owners to lobby for the merits of keeping the play.

Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the final vote was 22-10 on the proposal, which was submitted by the Green Bay Packers. The proposal needed 24 votes to pass.

Among the teams to support the Eagles with their vote were the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, New York Jets and Detroit Lions, sources told Schefter.

The Eagles celebrated the result, writing «Push On» overlayed on an image of their team lined up for the tush push against the Packers in a post to X on Wednesday. The Eagles and Packers will face each other in a «Monday Night Football» game in Week 10 this season.

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Kelce declined to comment on the vote Wednesday, saying, «I'm not here to talk to the media.» Lurie said he was «pleased» with the result of the vote but did not have any further comment.

In another vote, NFL owners approved a proposal to allow teams to declare an onside kick at any time during a game when they are trailing. Players on the kicking team also will be lined up with their front foot on the 35-yard line with the rule change, one yard closer than previously.

ESPN has push sneak/tush push data since 2022, and in that time frame the Eagles have accounted for over one-third of the NFL's attempts (108 of 316, or 34%). Philadelphia has over half of the NFL's push sneak touchdowns over the past three years (27 of 52).