Butt out: Tush push survives, vote to ban falls short

A proposal to eliminate any play involving pushing or shoving ballcarriers forward did not receive the required 24 votes of support on Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings.

BY FIELD LEVEL MEDIA

May 21, 2025, 11:39 AM Updated: 11:39 am

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Another season of the “Brotherly Shove” is coming soon after NFL owners failed to pass a proposal to ban the rugby-style, short-yardage play commonly employed by the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

A proposal to eliminate any play involving pushing or shoving ballcarriers forward did not receive the required 24 votes of support on Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings in Eagan, Minn. ESPN reported the final vote was 22-10.

The Eagles brought a secret weapon for their pre-vote argument on Wednesday. Retired center Jason Kelce joined the Philadelphia contingent led by franchise owner Jeffrey Lurie to present the team’s argument for maintaining the legality of the play.

A ban of the Push Tush play that the Philadelphia Eagles popularized did not receive enough votes at today’s league meeting in Minneapolis. The play remains alive. There will be more tush pushes this season. pic.twitter.com/sy1DOIznqP

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2025

Shortly after the vote was taken and it was clear a ban wouldn’t be implemented, the Eagles posted a picture of Jalen Hurts under center against the Green Bay Packers with the words “Push On” above the quarterback’s head.

Green Bay was the team that drafted the proposal, citing player safety concerns. The Packers play the Eagles on Nov. 10 in a “Monday Night Football” game at Lambeau Field.

The Eagles defeated the Packers twice last season — in the season opener at Brazil and in a postseason rematch at Philadelphia — and are 3-0 in the matchup since Nick Sirianni was hired in 2022.

–Field Level Media

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The NFL on Wednesday announced a new end-of-year annual honor that will be awarded to the league’s best offensive lineman, called Protector of the Year.

NFL executive Troy Vincent announced the award and credited Buffalo Bills four-time Pro Bowl lineman Dion Dawkins and retired two-time All-Pro Andrew Whitworth for pushing the idea.

“Recognize the big fellas,” Vincent said Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings in Eagan, Minn.

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