Once again, the boardroom drama during the NFL offseason attempts to overshadow the actual tussle on the field. And this year’s headline act? The most controversial, most unstoppable, and most ‘this-should-be-illegal-because-we-can’t-stop-it’ play in the NFL. And like clockwork, the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers arrive, raising the “player safety” banner as if it were their own personal cause. Guess who, though, isn’t impressed? Andy Reid.

The famous head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs is showing respect while other coaches are busy creating anti-Eagles legislation. Andy Reid said, “I think the Eagles did a great job perfecting the tush push.” However, he responded in a very Reid-like manner when asked about outlawing it: “There’s a whole medical side. If it’s putting a player in a bad position, then you probably have to do something about it. But if it’s not, then it’s a heck of a play.”

Translation? Perhaps spend more time in the weight room and less time complaining if Jalen Hurts is ruining your defense and causing you to lose sleep. So, per Reid, first talk, if it’s truly harmful. If not, stop whining and find a solution.

Green Bay and Buffalo are leading the charge to outlaw the tush push and their reasoning? “Health and safety of the players.” Right. Because the NFL is definitely a sport known for its gentle hugs and soft landings. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst claims “The medical professionals of the league had high concerns about putting players in a position to (suffer) catastrophic injuries.”

Okay, sir, fair point. But you know what else puts players in a position to suffer catastrophic injuries? Football. Plus, there is no conclusive evidence that the tush push results in more injuries than, say, every other play in which 300-pound linemen collide at full speed. However, why should facts interfere with a good excuse?

“It’s force, added force, and then the posture of the players… that’s where my concern comes in,” added Bills’ head coach, Sean McDermott. Sean, really? Because your 6’5, 240-pound bulldozer quarterback, Josh Allen, runs over linebackers as if they were owed money.

Funny, because last season, Buffalo conducted their own version of the tush push, and guess what? It was successful. Until it didn’t. Kansas City shut it down when they attempted it against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship. McDermott wants it banned now? It sounds like no one else can have it if they can’t. Maybe that’s the real issue here. Even Andy Reid, who has been on the receiving end of the Eagles’ dominance, isn’t crying for a ban. But let’s call it what it really is—sour grapes disguised as a “safety concern,” because that’s what the Eagles are thinking right now.

Eagles vs. the league: The Tush Push

Not only are a few teams against the Eagles, but they are under siege. While conveniently ignoring the reality that there have been zero documented injuries from the tush push, the Packers, Bills, and even some competition committee members are rushing after them like a mob with torches, yelling about “safety.“

And the Packers, who formally proposed the ban, are whining about the “pace of play” as if it’s about the game flow and not just getting stomped on fourth-and-1. Whereas, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin seems confused. He acknowledges that he was shocked it was acceptable in the first place but also doesn’t want to penalize innovation.

And then there are the realists—Texans‘ DeMeco Ryans and Browns‘ Kevin Stefanski have stated unequivocally that they do not want the play to be prohibited. Even more shockingly, Ryans said, “It’s hard to punish a team for being really good at something.” That’s a lot of knowledge there.

Let’s get this straight: The tush push is being attacked, but not for player safety; rather, it is being attacked because it is so incredibly successful. The Eagles have converted short-yardage situations with brutal efficiency, turning this simple play into a deadly weapon. The Eagles’ 2024 tush push success rate was 82.4%, which was a little lower than their 2022 campaign’s 92.6% success rate. They still have a higher success rate than the league average despite this drop, with other clubs averaging about 75%.

Think about this: the Eagles ran the tush push five times in their 2024 NFC Championship game against the Washington Commanders. It led to four first downs or touchdowns. In the AFC Championship game, on the other hand, the Buffalo Bills tried their version of the play. But were stuffed four times out of six tries.

Now, some teams want to simply press the “BAN” button rather than adjust. With some coaches on their side, the Eagles aren’t going down without a fight. However, the NFL’s decision to outlaw the tush push will be motivated more by jealousy than by a sincere concern for the welfare of the players.

With 24 out of 32 votes needed to formally abolish the play. The NFL owners will vote on the tush push and other rule revisions. The decision will probably be based on whether the league’s biggest influencers, such as Robert Kraft, Jerry Jones, and other typical power brokers, think the play actually poses a safety risk. Or if this is just a complicated case of “we hate that Philly figured this out first.”

What about Andy Reid? Most likely, he’s just relieved that his team won’t have to put up with this nonsense. After all, they have Patrick Mahomes. With that guy, who needs a tush push?