NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has reportedly taken a stance on the Philadelphia Eagles' controversial "tush push" play, a strategy that has been instrumental in their back-to-back Super Bowl runs. The "tush push" is a maneuver where the quarterback lines up directly behind the center and is thrust into the end zone with the help of two teammates during short-yardage situations.
Goodell has observed various coaches across the league struggling to counter this tactic. His intervention aims to address concerns regarding competitive balance and to ensure fairness within the game, as detailed by The Athletic.
Commissioner's Limited Power
Despite his reported advocacy for the play's prohibition, Goodell does not possess the unilateral power to enforce such a ban. The process requires a majority vote from the competition committee, followed by approval from team owners.
The committee includes representatives from several teams, notably three from NFC East rivals: Dallas Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones, New York Giants owner John Mara, and Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera. Notably absent from the eight-person panel is representation from the Eagles.
An internal league source conveyed to The Athletic’s NFL reporter Dianna Russini that while Goodell has no formal role in the committee, his perspective holds significant weight, especially among those teams that have failed to neutralize the Eagles' strategy. "Though it will all come down to the voting, the most important opinion about the play may come from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell," Russini reported. "I was told by a league source that Goodell wants to see this play removed from the game permanently."
While other teams have attempted to replicate the "tush push," the Eagles have perfected it, maintaining an impressive 93.5 percent success rate in short-yardage scenarios since the beginning of the 2022 season as of October 18, according to The Athletic.
Player Perspective
Jason Kelce, the Eagles’ center, acknowledged the physical toll of the "tush push" during an NBC interview in October. "All the weight and everything lying on top of you, and you've got to wait for everybody else to get up before you can get up," Kelce explained. "It's a grueling play, for sure. And, you know, if you do it right, you're at the bottom. If you're not at the bottom, it usually didn't go well."
Despite its challenges, Kelce and his teammates believe the play should remain legal. He describes the "tush push" as a variant of the traditional quarterback sneak play, suggesting it doesn't warrant prohibition.
Concerns Beyond the Field
Although injuries from the play are rare, Goodell's inclination to permanently ban the "tush push" may also be rooted in its seemingly invincible nature. There is precedent in contact sports for regulatory bodies stepping in to curb strategies that become too dominant. For example, the St. George Dragons' rugby league team in Australia saw their era of 11 consecutive championships between 1956 and 1966 come to an end when rule changes were introduced to limit tackles, illustrating how the game's dynamics can be shifted through external adjustments.
The Eagles, however, could argue their case by attributing their success to superior coaching and player execution rather than an unfair advantage. They contend that it should be the responsibility of the opposing teams' coaches to develop effective countermeasures against the "tush push," rather than relying on the league to intervene.
As the debate continues, the fate of the "tush push" hangs in the balance. With Goodell's influence evident but his authority limited, the decision will ultimately rest with the competition committee and the owners. The outcome will not only impact the Eagles but could set a precedent for how the NFL addresses innovative tactics in the future.