Bills' Josh Allen Clarifies Stance on Controversial 'Tush Push'

The controversial "tush push" play stirred up considerable discourse during the offseason. At the annual league meetings, the Green Bay Packers proposed a ban on its use, citing some widely accepted beliefs among those against it. 

The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles made the play famous, or infamous, depending on one's view. They have mastered its execution and led the campaign to keep it in the game. 

Ultimately, their efforts succeeded as they squeaked out enough votes to keep any change from passing. But the Eagles are not the only team benefiting from this seemingly unstoppable call. 

The Buffalo Bills have had some form of the quarterback sneak since 2021 and enjoyed the benefits of the tush push. Quarterback Josh Allen had a staunch defense of the play in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated: 

"I'm a big believer in if you can't stop it, keep running it, right? I think that there's a few teams that do it better than others, but then you look at a few teams that try to do it, and it doesn't have the same success.

"Just because a couple teams do it better than others, I don't feel like it should be banned," he told SI's Liam McKeone. "I understand the merit of what it brings... But I feel like if you can use it to your benefit, use it to your benefit. If you don't like it, my advice is to stop it."

Allen was one of the best short-yardage quarterbacks in the league in 2024, converting 17 of 18 third/fourth-and-1 plays, good for a 94% success rate. 

Allen is a man of his word in taking this stance, and Bills fans, unfortunately, know why. Back in January, the Bills attempted a tush push on a crucial 4th-and-1, coming up short on a disputed ruling that ultimately contributed to the Kansas City Chiefs rallying and defeating them to win the AFC Championship. 

Regardless, Allen and the Bills look to move past that heartbreak heading into a much-anticipated season where they will have the tush push at their disposal as often as necessary.