“Roger Goodell Drops Bombshell on the Controversial ‘Tush Push’: Is This the End of an Era?”

Is the iconic “tush push” about to be pushed to the sidelines? Earlier this offseason, the Green Bay Packers kicked off some serious discussions by proposing to ban this play—an audacious lift of the classic quarterback sneak that has made waves for its effectiveness, particularly with the Philadelphia Eagles demonstrating it beautifully as they clinched a Super Bowl championship. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently hinted that player safety might tilt the scales in favor of this ban, emphasizing the potential risks even in the absence of substantial data. With years of scrutiny over player safety in the league, it’s a fascinating dilemma that poses the question: should we really rethink a play that’s been a hallmark of quarterback strategy? Join me as we dive into the implications of Goodell’s comments and explore what might lie ahead for one of the most talked-about plays in the NFL!

Earlier this offseason, the Green Bay Packers issued a proposal to the NFL to ban the “tush push,” the Philadelphia Eagles’ iconic variation of the classic quarterback sneak play.

In this version, at least one offensive lineman is positioned behind the quarterback and shoves the quarterback forward in order to secure a first down.

The Eagles have run this play to near perfection over the last couple of seasons, and it helped them win the Super Bowl championship a couple of months ago.

Talks on whether the play will be banned have been tabled for now, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hinted that the ban proposal may succeed because of the concern over player safety, per Dov Kleiman.

“I think there are safety issues being considered with the tush push. We have very little data but we see the potential risk. It makes a lot of sense to go back to the old rule prohibiting pulling or pushing ball carriers.”

Uh Oh: Roger Goodell on banning the tush push:

"I think there are safety issues being considered with the tush push. We have very little data but we see the potential risk. It makes a lot of sense to go back to the old rule prohibiting pulling or pushing ball carriers."

The… pic.twitter.com/pNlDfxV8jQ

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 1, 2025

Player safety has been a big concern for the league in recent years after data has revealed the number of former players who have been diagnosed with CTE, and it has led to some rule changes to try to reduce the risk of brain trauma.

However, as Goodell himself noted, there is little data to suggest that the “tush push” leads to injuries or brain trauma, which may make it difficult for enough owners to vote in favor of the proposal to ban the play.

For a proposal to pass, 24 of the 32 league owners must vote in favor of it.

The post Roger Goodell Hints At Future Of ‘Tush Push’ Play appeared first on The Cold Wire.