The Philadelphia Eagles have turned the “Tush Push” into one of the NFL’s most effective, and most debated, plays. But now the spotlight is back on the referees, as fans and critics are accusing officials of repeatedly missing false start penalties when the Eagles run their signature short-yardage play.
The most recent controversy came during the Eagles’ matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, where once again, the play sparked outrage.
Early in the game, video replay appeared to show the Eagles’ offensive line shifting prematurely, specifically the right guard, before the ball was snapped. Despite the visible movement, the refs kept their flags in their pockets. The Eagles successfully converted the Tush Push later in the drive, which ultimately helped set up a scoring opportunity.
Rams head coach Sean McVay was clearly frustrated by the lack of a penalty. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, McVay immediately addressed the issue with referee Brad Rogers.
That conversation was quickly followed by Rogers walking over to the Eagles’ sideline for a brief talk with head coach Nick Sirianni. Although the details of those exchanges weren’t made public, the timing made it clear the missed false start was the focal point.
This isn’t the first time questions have been raised about the legality of the Eagles’ execution of the Tush Push. Critics have pointed out that the team often gets a generous interpretation of pre-snap movement and offsides, something other teams don’t seem to benefit from.
Fans, too, have been vocal, flooding social media with posts accusing the league of looking the other way. One user summed up the sentiment, saying, “The refs seem to turn an eye to offsides or false start when the Eagles run this.”
Growing frustration may push the NFL to respond
The outcry isn’t limited to Rams fans or social media hot takes. The NFL has acknowledged concerns about how the play is officiated. According to league insiders, officiating crews were sent training tape in the offseason highlighting several Tush Push attempts that should have been flagged-including a missed false start in the Eagles’ Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs.
During the league’s annual Spring Meeting, the Green Bay Packers proposed a rule change aimed at banning the Tush Push entirely. While the proposal failed to gain the necessary support from 24 teams, the very fact that it was considered shows how contentious the play has become.
For now, the Eagles will keep using the Tush Push-because it works. But with public pressure building and the officiating inconsistencies mounting, it’s clear that the league may have to revisit both how the play is officiated and whether it should remain legal moving forward.
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