The National Football League (NFL) is considering a rule change that would ban the “tush push,” a play where a teammate pushes a quarterback forward from behind to gain yardage. The debate has been ongoing for months, with some teams and coaches defending the play as a key part of their strategy.
Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott, who serves on the competition committee, expressed his concerns about the tush push during Monday morning’s press conference. “It’s not just about being responsible, it’s also about safety,” he said. “If we can make this change without compromising our teams’ success, that would be a great outcome.”
McDermott pointed out that while some teams have been successful with the tush push, others have struggled to execute it effectively. He also noted that defensive players are not allowed to counter by pushing teammates from behind, which makes the play even more challenging.
The proposed rule change aims to prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly in front of them, similar to how it addresses assisting ball carriers. The Green Bay Packers have submitted a proposal to add this fourth bullet point to Article 4 of the rule book.
While McDermott hasn’t announced his vote on the proposal, he emphasized the importance of making the right call for player safety. “As coaches, we have to correct bad habits through teaching and discipline,” he said. “If this change is made, it would be a great step forward for our game.”
The competition committee’s recommendation needs to be ratified by three-quarters of the NFL’s owners before it can become formalized. While there may still be some resistance to the proposed rule change, many coaches and executives seem to support the ban, citing concerns about player safety.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6244797/2025/03/31/sean-mcdermott-bills-tush-push-josh-allen