The NFL's competition committee co-chairman, Rich McKay, doesn't foresee a push to ban the controversial "tush push" play in 2026, despite last offseason's heated debates. Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, McKay mentioned, "There's no team proposal that I've seen from it.
So, I wouldn't envision it. But you never know."
NFL executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent, confirmed that the deadline for teams to submit proposals to ban the play has passed. The Green Bay Packers had previously proposed a ban in February 2025, citing concerns over safety and competitiveness. However, the proposal fell short, with only 22 of the required 24 team votes for a rule change.
Once regarded as a nearly foolproof method for securing first downs, the tush push's effectiveness has slightly waned. Its first-down conversion rate dipped to 76.8% last season, down from 82% over the previous years.
Despite this, its usage increased, with teams running the play 112 times in 2025 compared to 101 in 2024. The Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills led the league in attempts, with 27 and 17, respectively.
Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks have experimented with variations, using a tight end as the ball carrier instead of the traditional quarterback sneak.
The play faced additional scrutiny after the Eagles' narrow 20-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on September 14, 2025. The NFL acknowledged that the tush push complicates officiating, particularly concerning pre-snap movement.
In other developments, the competition committee is contemplating allowing replay officials to flag "non-football acts" that escape on-field penalties. McKay, however, doesn't anticipate a significant year for rule changes, stating, "The game is in a pretty good place."