The Philadelphia Eagles’ “tush push”, a short-yardage play that has become one of the most dominant and debated tactics in the NFL, has drawn the attention of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is firmly against banning it.
Trump weighed in on the Packers-led push to outlaw the play, which has been a staple of the Eagles’ offense since 2022, and expressed his opposition to changing the rules.
“I wouldn’t ban it,” Trump told The Spectator when asked about the potential rule change.
However, Trump made it clear that there’s one recent NFL rule he would get rid of—the new kickoff rule, which has altered one of the game’s most explosive plays.
Trump Slams NFL’s New Kickoff Rule
While Trump doesn’t believe the tush push should be outlawed, he strongly opposes the NFL’s revamped kickoff rule, which prevents players on the kicking team from moving until the ball is either touched by the receiving team or hits the ground.
“First of all, it’s the opposite of football,” Trump said. “Second of all, it’s actually more dangerous because you’re actually going into each other without any defense or anything. It’s much more dangerous. It is so terrible.”
Trump also claimed that he personally spoke to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the issue, calling the new rule “horrible to watch.”
However, NFL executives have defended the change. According to NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Miller, the new rule increased kickoff returns by 57% in 2024, while also reducing injury rates.
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Packers Lead the Charge to Ban the ‘Tush Push’
While Trump and many others don’t see an issue with the Eagles’ signature play, the Green Bay Packers have taken a formal stance against it, filing a proposal to the NFL’s competition committee to ban the tush push from future seasons.
The Packers’ president, Mark Murphy, previously called the play “bad for the game”, noting that it virtually guarantees a first down when used in short-yardage situations.
ESPN research backs up Murphy’s claim. Since 2022, the Eagles have used the tush push 108 times—by far the most in the NFL. The Buffalo Bills, the next-highest team, have used it just 55 times.
The play has been highly successful, as Philadelphia and Buffalo have converted on 87% of their attempts—significantly higher than the league-wide success rate of 71%.
Murphy isn’t alone in his opposition, either. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris recently stated that he would vote in favor of banning the play, and Bills head coach Sean McDermott, a member of the NFL’s competition committee, voiced his concerns about the injury risks associated with the technique.
“There’s always been an injury risk with that play,” McDermott said. “And the techniques used have been potentially contrary to the health and safety of the players.”
Eagles’ Nick Sirianni Defends the Play
Unsurprisingly, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has pushed back against the idea that the play is unfair or automatic.
“I can’t tell you how many times we’ve practiced the snap, we’ve practiced the play,” Sirianni said at the NFL Combine this week. “It’s not a play that’s easy to practice, so there’s different ways we’ve figured out how to practice it.”
Sirianni also dismissed the notion that the play is “automatic”, saying that execution and preparation are what make it successful—not just the nature of the formation.
“The fact that it’s portrayed as an automatic thing… we work really hard, and our guys are talented at this play,” Sirianni added. “So it’s a little insulting to say we’re good at it so it’s automatic. We work really hard at it.”
What’s Next?
If the Packers don’t withdraw their proposal, the NFL’s 32 team owners will vote on whether to ban the tush push at the league’s annual meeting next month in Palm Beach, Florida.
For the rule change to pass, at least 24 of the 32 owners would have to vote in favor of banning the play.
With strong opinions on both sides, the decision could become one of the most controversial rule votes in recent NFL history. Whether Trump’s stance resonates with decision-makers remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—the tush push debate isn’t going away anytime soon.
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