NFL competition committee co-chairman Rich McKay said Sunday that he does not expect the league to consider a formal proposal this offseason to ban the quarterback push play commonly referred to as the “tush push.”
The play, which typically involves a quarterback taking a direct snap on a short-yardage situation and being pushed from behind by one or more teammates to help gain additional forward progress, has been one of the league’s most discussed tactics in recent seasons. Its effectiveness on third-and-short and fourth-and-short downs, particularly in goal-line and sneak situations, has led to ongoing debate among coaches, defensive players, and fans about whether it creates an unfair advantage or poses elevated injury risk.
McKay’s comments indicate that, for now, the competition committee does not plan to advance a rule change targeting the play for the upcoming league year. While the committee annually reviews a wide range of on-field issues—such as player safety, competitive balance and the overall flow of the game—not every topic of discussion results in a formal rule proposal being sent to team owners for a vote.
Any change to the legality of the tush push would require approval from at least three-quarters of the NFL’s 32 clubs at the league’s annual meeting or another formal voting session. McKay’s remarks suggest there is not currently enough momentum or consensus within the committee to justify putting the issue on the agenda for a potential rules adjustment this year.
The ongoing scrutiny of the tush push reflects how teams are continually searching for strategic edges within the existing rulebook, and how the league regularly evaluates whether emerging tactics align with long-term priorities for safety and fairness. Although the play will remain under the microscope, McKay’s stance signals that the league is, at least for this offseason, content to allow teams to keep it in their offensive arsenal without a new restriction being put to a vote.
