During the Philadelphia Eagles’ 38-20 victory over the New York Giants, the tush push play became the center of another controversy. Quarterback Jalen Hurts had the ball stripped by Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, but the referees ruled the play dead due to forward progress, awarding the Eagles a first down. Giants head coach Brian Daboll was visibly frustrated with the call, as the Eagles used the opportunity to score a touchdown and extend their lead.
Former Eagles star Jason Kelce, speaking on his brother Travis Kelce’s podcast, criticized the NFL’s officiating during the game. Kelce insisted the play was a fumble, and the officials missed it. He argued that if the tush push is indeed difficult to officiate, it should be banned. While he acknowledged the challenges referees face with the play, he defended the tush push itself, stating that officials often miss forward progress calls regardless of the play.
Kelce emphasized that the controversy surrounding the tush push should not overshadow legitimate officiating issues. He pointed out that even if the play were banned, similar issues would persist, as offensive linemen might still false start whether or not the tush push is involved. “Like if you allow offensive linemen to false start, they are going to do that whether there’s people pushing behind you or not,” Kelce said.
The tush push remains a contentious issue in the NFL. Although the league owners narrowly voted to ban the play in May, the decision fell two votes short of the required 24. The Eagles, who improved to 6-2 with their win over the Giants, now have a bye week before their next matchup. The team’s continued success has brought renewed attention to the play, highlighting the ongoing debate over its future in the league.