The “tush push” just will not die. The play that mixes brute force with controversy has dominated NFL debates for two seasons, and now Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones believes the league is headed for another round.
Speaking during this week’s ownership meetings, Jones told Yahoo Sports he expects another vote to surface on whether to ban the quarterback sneak that the Philadelphia Eagles turned into a short-yardage cheat code.
The conversation never really stopped after last spring. In May, 22 of 32 teams voted to eliminate the play. That represented nearly 69 percent of the league, but the NFL requires a 75-percent majority to change the rules. Two more teams flipping their votes would have been enough to remove the play completely.
Only my opinion, but I think yes, it will be… You still see that it’s one that probably has enough criticism that it will come up again.
Why the Tush Push will not go away
The move, led by Jalen Hurts and the Eagles, has become football’s version of a magic trick. On third-and-one or fourth-and-inches, it almost always works. Supporters call it innovation. Critics call it ugly, unfair, and nearly impossible to officiate cleanly.
NFL executive Troy Vincent said on Pro Football Talk Live that any team can propose a rule change. If no one else steps forward, the Cowboys just might. That possibility means the debate could return to the table for the 2026 offseason meetings.
Inside league offices, the discussion has shifted over time. First came concerns about neck injuries. Then came complaints about aesthetics. Most recently, the argument has focused on officiating errors, especially early movement by offensive linemen. Despite those shifting reasons, data reviewed by ESPN and the Associated Press shows no major increase in injuries related to the play.
A battle between tradition and evolution
The fight over the tush push has become symbolic.It is not just about one play but about what the NFL should look like. The league has always balanced tradition with innovation, and this is the latest test of that tension.
Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni summed up the opposing view perfectly last season: “It’s football. You’ve got to stop it.”
Jones seems ready to challenge that mindset. If the Cowboys formally bring the motion forward, it would go first to the competition committee before a league-wide vote. Only two additional “yes” votes would be needed to outlaw the play.
Until then, the tush push remains legal, and every time the Eagles run it, the rest of the league will be watching closely. Especially the man in Dallas who believes this fight is far from over.
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