The Green Bay Packers have proposed banning the “tush push” play for the upcoming NFL season and beyond, the league confirmed Wednesday.
It was first reported in February that the Packers would submit a proposal ruling out the play, which the Super Bowl 59 champion Philadelphia Eagles made popular.
On a typical tush push, a quarterback will take the snap from under center and try to run forward while multiple players lined up behind him aid him with a push on his backside.
Green Bay is seeking to amend Rule 12, Section 1 of the NFL’s rule book, which pertains to blocking and the use of hands and arms. The Packers’ proposal is to “prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap.”
The tush push has become controversial largely because of its effectiveness. In addition to the Eagles, the Buffalo Bills are another team who use it often. (The Baltimore Ravens run a version of the play with their tight end taking the snap.)
Over the last three seasons, the Eagles and the Bills have combined to run a “tush push” 163 times, according to ESPN Research, converting for first downs or scoring touchdowns on 87% of those plays.
Another reason the play has come under scrutiny is a potential injury risk.
“To me, there has always been an injury risk with that play, and I’ve expressed that opinion for the last couple of years or so,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott told reporters at the NFL Combine in February. “I just feel like the health and safety of our players has to be at the top of our game, which it is. The techniques that are used with that play have been potentially contrary to the health and safety of the players. You have to go back, though, in fairness, to the injury data on the play. The optics on it I’m not in love with.”
However, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent, said in February that the league’s internal data revealed a 0% injury rate on tush-push plays.
The proposal will come to a vote at the NFL owners’ annual meeting, which begins March 30. The potential rule change would require 24 of the league’s 32 owners to vote in favor for it to take effect next season.