Rich McKay: Not expecting tush push ban proposal this year - ESPN

ESPN

by Mike Reiss and Kevin Seifert

February 23, 2026

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Rich McKay, co-chairman of the NFL Competition Committee, has stated that he does not anticipate a proposal to ban the tush push in the near future. During a meeting at the NFL Combine, McKay emphasized that no team has submitted a formal proposal to eliminate the controversial play. The tush push, a short-yardage strategy where an offensive player pushes a teammate lined up behind the snapper, has been a topic of debate in recent years. The play gained significant attention in 2025 when the Green Bay Packers proposed a ban, but it ultimately failed to gather enough support from NFL owners. The Packers' initial proposal was narrowly defeated, and subsequent revisions also fell short. McKay noted that while there have been discussions about safety concerns and rule changes, the game remains largely unchanged. The tush push has primarily been used by teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, who led the league in attempts during 2025. While its usage has increased slightly compared to previous years, other teams have begun experimenting with variations, such as using tight ends instead of quarterbacks for the snap. Despite some safety concerns, the NFL has not provided concrete data to support claims that the play is inherently dangerous. McKay also highlighted that there are no major rule changes expected in the coming year, including potential adjustments to playoff seeding or the league's catch rule. The competition committee remains focused on ensuring rules align with both on-field actions and replay technology, which has proven challenging due to its ability to slow down and analyze plays frame by frame. The debate over the tush push highlights the ongoing tension between tradition and modernization in football, as teams continue to innovate while balancing safety concerns. McKay's comments suggest that while some changes may be proposed, they are unlikely to take center stage this year. For sports fans, this underscores the dynamic nature of NFL rulemaking and its impact on the game's evolution.

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Originally published on ESPN on 2/23/2026