In the world of NFL rule-making, the once hotly debated "tush push" is cooling off. When league executives gather in Phoenix for their annual spring meetings, the controversial quarterback sneak won't be a topic of discussion for rule changes.
Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons CEO and co-chair of the competition committee, highlighted in a recent video conference that the traditional quarterback sneak outperformed the tush push last season. With its success rate dwindling, the chatter around the tush push has quieted down within the football community.
"There’s no proposal on the table this year addressing it," McKay noted. The focus remains on ensuring consistency in officiating, particularly around open-field plays and the timing of the whistle, but nothing specifically targeting the tush push.
Last season, the Lions were among the teams opposing a ban on the play, which fell just two votes short of passing. The Eagles had made the play famous, successfully converting short-yardage situations at an impressive rate over the 2022-24 seasons. However, the Lions managed to stop the Eagles on several attempts last November, contributing to a league-wide conversion rate drop to 76.8%.
While the Packers proposed a ban last year, no team has stepped forward with a similar proposal this spring. McKay acknowledged that concerns remain about the pushing aspect, but the frequency of the play's use has been declining.
This year's agenda includes five playing rules proposals and three bylaw proposals from the competition committee. Notably, there are also two team-submitted resolutions, one of which could allow trading draft picks five years in advance, up from the current three.
Key rule changes being considered involve the kickoff. These include permitting onside kicks at any game point, discouraging out-of-bounds kicks from the 50-yard line, and adjusting kickoff return formations. Additionally, proposed changes in officiating could enable league personnel to assist in disqualification decisions and correct clear missed calls during an officials' work stoppage.
The NFL is currently in negotiations with the referees association for a new contract. McKay emphasized that the temporary replay assist rule is a backup plan for using replacement officials.
Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president for health and safety, reiterated the league's commitment to reaching an agreement with officials, aiming for improved performance and accountability on the field.