The NFL has been trying to ban the Philadelphia Eagles’ tush push play for years, and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes it will finally happen soon
Jerry Jones didn’t hesitate when asked about potentially ending the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominant tush push play. The Dallas Cowboys owner delivered exactly the type of response you’d anticipate from someone who’s been entrenched in one of the NFL’s fiercest divisional feuds for decades.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his team’s Sunday night showdown with the Denver Broncos, the Cowboys owner shared his conviction that the contentious play will eventually face a ban. Multiple owners, Jones included, have previously pushed for the play’s elimination through voting, though those efforts have fallen short.
“Only my opinion, but I think yes, it will be,” Jones revealed to Yahoo Sports. It comes after former Cowboys star, Micah Parsons, doubled down on his tush push comments.
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“It’s one that probably has enough criticism that it will come up again,” Jones continued. “I think it probably will come up for a vote.”
The numbers tell the tale of this modified quarterback sneak, where teammates positioned behind Jalen Hurts propel him forward. The strategy has remained the Eagles’ most potent red zone tool despite center Jason Kelce’s retirement, while simultaneously being the league’s most despised play.
Since 2021, Philadelphia has executed eighty-two sneaks with a running back or fullback positioned less than three yards behind the line, successfully converting sixty-eight attempts for an 83 percent success rate. Buffalo ranks second at 84 percent efficiency, though with approximately half as many attempts.
During last offseason’s meetings, twenty-two of thirty-two NFL teams voted to ban the play. However, seventy-five percent approval is required to alter a rule, meaning two additional votes are needed to implement the change.
Green Bay confirmed the Packers had proposed outlawing it. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris indicated he would support banning it.
Bills coach Sean McDermott labeled it dangerous, while commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged the league is examining its injury statistics and fairness.
Philadelphia Head Coach Nick Sirianni pushed back, describing it as lazy to suggest the play’s effectiveness stems from anything beyond pure talent. “It’s a little insulting to say we’re good at it, so it’s automatic,” Sirianni said.
“We work really hard at it. Our guys are talented at this play.”
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The execution was on full display when the Eagles opened Super Bowl LIX with the identical play from the one-yard line. Hurts powered through, the stadium exploded, and Philadelphia secured a 40–22 triumph over Kansas City.
Hurts himself doesn’t acknowledge the moniker everyone else employs. “It’s just a quarterback sneak,” he said before that game. “I keep it standard.”
Should Jones achieve his goal, one of the NFL’s most dominant plays could be removed just ahead of their two scheduled encounters next season.
Until that happens, the Eagles will keep utilizing it, while other franchises will try to replicate the play that many desire to see removed from the sport.
