Joe Buck Makes Stance On 'Tush Push' Extremely Clear

Suffice it to say, Buck doesn't believe that the NFL needs to ban the play outright.

However, there is growing momentum and even directives from the NFL to police the play more thoroughly.

By far the most talked about issue people had with the play this week was instances of Eagles players lining up offsides or making false start motions that went uncalled by referees.

That issue could be remedied as early as this week as the NFL reportedly sent a directive to officials advising them to monitor plays for those penalties more closely.

What is the Tush Push?

The “Tush Push” is a variation of the quarterback sneak used by the Eagles, in which additional teammates line up directly behind the quarterback (usually Jalen Hurts) and literally push him forward, while the offensive line also surges ahead to gain short yardage. It’s been highly effective—conversion rates are much higher than typical QB sneak plays—and it played a key role in several critical situations, including scoring in Super Bowls.

Critics argue the play poses fairness and safety issues. Some contend it gives an unfair advantage to the offense, is difficult to defend, and skirts the edge of rules against “helping the runner.” Others point out that officials have a hard time spotting early movement or false starts in the chaos of the snap. Proposals to ban or change the rule have been floated (for example, by the Packers in 2025), but so far none have passed—partly because many teams support keeping it, and because the NFL has found no significant injuries tied directly to its use.