Seattle Seahawks fans can breathe a sigh of relief as it looks like the “Barnyard” play is here to stay, at least for now.
The NFL’s competition committee, led by co-chairman Rich McKay, has indicated there are no current plans to ban the infamous tush push for the 2026 season. This marks a shift from last year’s discussions, where the play faced significant scrutiny.
“There’s no team proposal that I’ve seen from it,” McKay mentioned after a day at the NFL combine. “So, I wouldn’t envision it. But you never know.”
Last year, the Green Bay Packers spearheaded an effort to eliminate the play, likely fueled by their playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, who went on to win the Super Bowl. Despite their push, they fell short, securing only 16 of the 24 necessary votes.
Even when revisited in May, the proposal missed the mark by just two votes. Interestingly, the Seahawks were among those supporting the ban.
Despite these efforts, the tush push has gained popularity. During the 2025 season, teams attempted the play 112 times, up from 101 in 2024.
The Eagles led with 27 attempts, followed by the Buffalo Bills with 17. Some teams have even adapted the play, using tight ends instead of quarterbacks.
However, the Eagles saw a dip in their success rate with it.
The Seahawks have their own spin on the play, dubbed the “Barnyard,” featuring tight end AJ Barner. Barner notably scored a touchdown using this play against the Washington Commanders in Week 9. As ESPN’s Brady Henderson highlighted, Seattle successfully converted 10 of 11 tush push attempts throughout the regular season and playoffs, contributing to their Super Bowl 60 run.
While other rule changes might emerge as the offseason unfolds, nothing substantial has been proposed yet. McKay did mention ongoing discussions about playoff seeding and the catch rule, hinting at potential future adjustments.
Stay tuned for updates on any new rule proposals as they develop.