The Tush Push survived an attempt by NFL owners to ban the play, and Philadelphia Eagles fans might have one more reason to love Jason Kelce.
Wednesday morning, NFL owners voted on the Green Bay Packers’ proposal to ban the Tush Push at a meeting in Minnesota. According to Adam Schefter, 22 NFL owners voted in favor of banning the tush push, which fell short of the required 24 votes, meaning the most controversial play in sports lives on.
Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, who became synonymous with the Tush Push toward the end of his NFL career, was in attendance for the owners’ meeting. On the latest episode of their New Heights podcast, Kelce said he was traveling to Minnesota to answer questions about the play after seeing some NFL owners claim it caused him to retire.
Jason was invited to the NFL Owners Meeting to set the record straight before the vote to ban the Tush Push
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!!! pic.twitter.com/xmLqS8HdIa
— New Heights (@newheightshow) May 21, 2025
“There were some things said at the last owners’ meetings,” Jason told his brother and co-host Travie Kelce. “Some of the owners and coaches hinted that the reason I stopped playing was because of the Tush Push and that I got hurt on the Tush Push frequently. I’m just going to answer any questions people have about my partaking in this play.”
During the NFL’s annual league meeting in early April, Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula reportedly alleged Kelce retired because of the wear and tear of the Tush Push. And Packers president Mark Murphy alleged Kelce expressed relief for no longer having to run the play because it was dangerous.
I think the good gentleman from Buffalo appears to have misunderstood my meaning of the word grueling, I have never called the play dangerous. If the NFL wishes to summon me for legitimate thoughts on the tush push under oath, I’d be glad to give my testimony. pic.twitter.com/WKhRMLa47b
— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) April 4, 2025
After seeing Pegula and Murphy use his name in their attempt at convincing the league to ban the Tush Push, Kelce offered to meet with NFL owners directly to correct and misconceptions. Kelce followed through on his offer this week and met with the NFL owners ahead of their vote on the Tush Push. And while we don’t know whether he was able to sway any owners one way of the other, his presence certainly didn’t hurt.
“There’s not any data to suggest that it’s unsafe,” Kelce said on New Heights. “I’ll come out of retirement today if you tell me all I gotta do is run 80 tush pushes to run in the NFL. I’ll do that gladly! It’ll be the easiest job in the world.”
There must be some easier jobs in the world, but point taken. Kelce added that he didn’t care whether the play was banned or saved, but he didn’t want to be falsely used by NFL owners as a scapegoat.
