Calls to ban the 'tush push' intensify after alleged false starts in Eagles' win over Chiefs
Fans and commentators criticized officiating as Philadelphia used the short-yardage push several times in a 20-17 victory at Arrowhead Stadium
Philadelphia Eagles fans and critics renewed calls to outlaw the short-yardage "tush push" after observers said offensive linemen moved prematurely during several of the plays in the Eagles' 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
The controversy centered on repeated instances in which Eagles guards appeared to move before the snap on plays that culminated in quarterback Jalen Hurts being pushed forward for short-yardage gains, including a fourth-quarter touchdown that helped seal the victory. Social media clips and televised replays prompted viewers to argue that the team committed false-start penalties that were not called.
Fans on social media posted videos and commentary alleging offsides and false-start infractions by left guard Landon Dickerson and right guard Tyler Steen on some of the plays. One Twitter user, Nathan Yamnitz, posted a clip and wrote, "It’s a false start. Every single time. If you won’t take the play away, at least officiate it appropriately." Other viewers urged the NFL to ban the maneuver outright.
The criticism was echoed on FOX's broadcast. Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady said the play was "awfully impossible to stop" when officials miss pre-snap movement. Former linebacker and media analyst Will Compton said the Eagles committed false starts on the sequence. Fox rules analyst and former official Dean Blandino called the play difficult to officiate after another use in a short-yardage situation.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid also expressed frustration about at least one uncalled instance and at one point was shown berating a referee on the field following a play in the game.
The Eagles have frequently used the push play in short-yardage situations since adopting it several seasons ago. According to ESPN, 65 of 101 recorded tash-push-like calls last season involved the Eagles and Buffalo Bills combined, and Philadelphia scored 27 touchdowns with the play from the 2022 through 2024 seasons. The effectiveness of the tactic and its increasing use prompted the Green Bay Packers to propose a rule change during the offseason to prohibit "an offensive player from pushing, pulling, lifting or assisting the runner except by individually blocking opponents for him." The Packers' proposal also sought a 10-yard penalty for violations.
That proposal required the support of 24 of the NFL's 32 teams at an owners meeting in May to pass but fell short, receiving only 22 votes. The Eagles and nine other franchises — the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and Tennessee Titans — were among those opposed to the ban.
League officials have not announced a change to the rule or signaled an immediate plan to alter enforcement following the Arrowhead game. The broader debate over the play has included concerns about competitive fairness, officiating consistency and player safety, though the league has not released conclusive evidence that the maneuver increases injury risk.
The Eagles improved to 2-0 with the win, and the use of the push play remains a focal point for opponents and analysts who say either the play should be banned or enforced more strictly. The controversy is likely to resurface if teams continue to deploy the tactic in high-leverage short-yardage situations without officials calling pre-snap infractions.