Eagles’ Tush Push Controversy To Get Clarity after NFL Instructs Officials to Call False-Starts

Nowadays, whenever anyone talks about the Philadelphia Eagles, they generally debate about their famously automatic play, the Tush Push. That topic has even surpassed any conversations about their ability to defend their Super Bowl LIX win.

Those conversations started well before their championship-winning campaign, with a few teams, namely the Green Bay Packers, unhappy with the league’s stance on the play.

They introduced a motion for the play to be banned during the offseason owners’ meeting, but could not find the support needed to win the vote. Throughout the time, the NFL stated that just because someone was good at it did not warrant a ban.

Of late, that notion has seen some pushback after the Kansas City Chiefs’ star defensive tackle Chris Jones pointed out that the Eagles’ offensive linemen were routinely offside during their Week 2 matchup.

This led to further accusations of cheating, and again, some voices in the football world started to ask if the play should be allowed to continue. Now, the NFL has stepped in again, this time hopefully to give more clarity.

We want to make sure that we officiate these plays tight and make sure that every aspect of the offensive team is legal and any movement… that’s not correct, we want to shut it down as a false start.

The Washington Post’s Mark Maske revealed

The NFL also says on its officials' training tape of the tush push: "We want to make sure that we officiate these plays tight and make sure that every aspect of the offensive team is legal and any movement… that’s not correct, we want to shut it down as a false start."

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) September 18, 2025

The journalist also added that the league has sent training tapes to all its officials, as well as the 32 teams, as it hopes such instances will not be repeated. The league is hoping for stricter officiating, especially on the Tush Push, and other offensive linemen penalties.

NFL confirms Eagles O-linemen committed false-starts

After the uproar stemming from Chris Jones’ claims, the league looked at tape from their Week 2 clash against the Philadelphia Eagles. They then confirmed this to Mark Maske.

The NFL said in its officials’ training tape sent to all 32 teams this week that the Eagles should have been called for false-starting on the tush push Sunday against the Chiefs, instructing officials to call ‘these plays tight.’

Mark Maske revealed

This essentially means the league is confirming that the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line committed false starts while performing the Tush Push against the Chiefs. More importantly, the league wants its referees to observe and officiate any infringements tightly.

This could pile the pressure on the Eagles’ O-line, as they now have to be careful whenever their coaches ask them to perform the Tush Push. Any penalty will negate their previous plays.

Upcoming at https://t.co/GXHkX9kbHu: The NFL said in its officials' training tape sent to all 32 teams this week that the Eagles should have been called for false-starting on the tush push Sunday against the Chiefs, instructing officials to call “these plays tight."

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) September 18, 2025

Most importantly, penalties will have a major impact on 4th down situations. Then there is also the threat that opposing defensive linemen will probably assist officials in calling out such encroachments.

NFL officials acknowledge difficulty in officiating the Eagles’ Tush Push

The NFL has had its work cut out trying to justify keeping the Tush Push in the wake of calls for it to be banned. However, they want their officials to do their best to avoid helping the Philadelphia Eagles with missed calls.

This is a very hard play to officiate. I get it.

Ramon George said as quoted by Mark Maske

This was Ramon George, the NFL’s vice president of officiating training and development, acknowledging how difficult it is to officiate the Tush Push.

When the Eagles first started using the play, there was uproar after its effectiveness led other teams to almost throw in the towel. After the furor, the franchise has cleaned up the play, with the lone example of false starts impacting their Week 2 win over their Super Bowl LIX opponents.

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