NFL Owners Reject Ban on Eagles' Tush Push Play

The Philadelphia Eagles successfully preserved their signature "tush push" play after NFL owners voted 22-10 against banning it, falling two votes short of the 24 needed to eliminate the play. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie made a passionate, nearly hour-long defense of the play, emphasizing its safety and framing the vote as a responsibility to the game rather than individual teams, even using a colorful simile to illustrate the play's success. Former Eagles center Jason Kelce also played an influential role by addressing the owners and dispelling rumors about injury risks, adding a humorous touch that helped sway undecided votes. The New Orleans Saints, led by first-year head coach Kellen Moore, were pivotal supporters of the play, helping it survive the vote alongside the Eagles. Despite unanimous recommendations from the NFL’s competition and health and safety committees to ban the play, the owners' vote reflected concerns that the play is not inherently more dangerous than others and a reluctance to remove a strategic element of the game. This outcome underscores the influence of player perspectives and strong advocacy by team leadership in NFL rule discussions.