Sep 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) calls a play at the line of scrimmage against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
It's the worst-kept secret in the NFL that the powers that be aren't fond of the Tush Push. They're even less fond when a clear false start is missed on the polarizing play that the Eagles have perfected since the start of the 2022 season.
The most-discussed part of the Eagles' 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in last week's Super Bowl rematch was a missed false start late in the fourth quarter:
Refs miss a false start on the Eagles on this tush push touchdown pic.twitter.com/3WbK8gkb5X
Mark Maske of The Washington Post said that the NFL acknowledged in their weekly training video that gets sent out to officials that a false start should have been called:
In its training tape for game officials this week, the NFL said the Philadelphia Eagles should have been called for a false start that went unpenalized on at least one of their tush pushes during Sunday’s victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, instructing officials to call “these plays tight and make sure that every aspect of the offensive team is legal.”
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that someone with the league probably leaked this memo to Maske. As On Pattison's Anthony SanFilippo and Grace Del Pizzo noted earlier this week, there did seem to be a coordinated effort the last few days from those who are more likely to be sympathetic to commissioner Roger Goodell's position of wanting to outlaw the play. FOX rules analyst Dean Blandino and ESPN's Adam Schefter were two powerful voices that spoke negatively about the play this week.
"I am done with the tush push guys. It's a hard play to officiate." - @DeanBlandino pic.twitter.com/Qcg2jtx2I2
To be fair, the NFL is correct in saying that the Eagles got away with a false start late in Sunday's game. And they'll probably eventually get their wish to have the play banned, which they fell two votes shy of last offseason. But for at least the rest of this season, the Eagles are going to be able to run it. As long as they don't line up offsides or false start, history tells us there's not a ton that can be done to stop Jalen Hurts and company from using the play to their advantage in short-yardage situations.
