Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata (68) and offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65) and center Jason Kelce (62). Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

NFL showing new tactic to nullify Eagles' 'tush push' play?

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 12/19/23

It’s no secret that the NFL does not like the Philadelphia Eagles using their seemingly unstoppable “tush push” quarterback sneak play.

However, after taking some heat for proposing to change the rules because of one team, it now appears the league won’t ban the play next season after all as originally believed.

But that doesn’t mean the Eagles won’t be under a microscope anytime they try to run the play, as evidenced in Monday’s 20-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks when center Jason Kelce was hit with a false start penalty near the end zone for slightly moving the ball before the snap that turned third-and-1 at the Seattle 3 to a third-and-6 from the 8 and resulted in a Philly field goal instead of a potential touchdown.

Kelce called for a false start here. #PHIvsSEA pic.twitter.com/2eXIRY5NBH
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 19, 2023

“Obviously, the false start on me in the red zone hurt really bad,” Kelce told reporters after the game. “We were up at that point. I take that one really personally because it was stupid on my part. They've been warning me about that for years.”

Multiple reports have indicated that the league is making an effort to crack down on anything that could lead to a potential injury, which is why there’s been an uptick in formation and pre-snap movement penalties being called.

Kelce admitted in October that NFL officials have warned him several times about where and how he lines up on the play. After his latest penalty may have cost the Eagles a touchdown, and perhaps even a win, Kelce and the rest of Philly’s offensive line will presumably mind their Ps and Qs when running the “tush push” going forward.

“I think I've just got to be smarter, especially in that situation,” Kelce added. “I think if that's a full yard to gain, (the penalty isn’t called) probably not as much, but because it was so short, the fact that I moved it at all was being called. I've just got to be smarter than that.”

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