What’s the Tush Push in the NFL?

It’s fourth down, and the offense is just inches from the goal line. What play does the team run? In some cases, the call is the controversial tush push. In this play, the football is snapped to the quarterback, and his teammates then push him forward, trying to drive through the opposing team’s defensive line. The tush push is typically used when the offense needs one yard or less for either a first down or a touchdown. The Philadelphia Eagles popularized the play beginning in 2022 and are almost unstoppable when using it, boasting a success rate of more than 95 percent on fourth downs with one yard to go. Because of this dominance, the tush push is also known as the “brotherly shove,” a reference to Philadelphia’s nickname the “City of Brotherly Love.”

Although hugely successful, the tush push is also incredibly polarizing. Many coaches refuse to use the play, and a number of teams have called for it to be banned. Why? Some claim that the tush push increases the risk of injuries. Players have to drive forward at a low angle, raising the potential for damage to the head or neck. Others have said that it’s more of a rugby play and that it requires no real skill, which detracts from the game. Officiating the tush push can also be challenging, since the ensuing scrum can make it hard for referees to spot rule violations.

Following the 2024–25 season, NFL owners voted on whether to ban the tush push, and the proposal fell 2 votes short of the 24 required for passage. So the play remains legal for now, though debate about its place in the sport continues.