Jason Kelce Talks Defending Eagles' Tush Push to NFL Owners Amid Proposal to Ban Play

Legendary former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce discussed the role he played in preserving the legality of the Eagles' controversial Tush Push play at last week's NFL spring meeting.

Speaking Wednesday on his New Heights podcast (beginning at the 4:38 mark), Kelce provided some insight into why he was at the meeting and what he said to the league's 32 owners.

"The reason I was there was because there was a narrative out there that one of the reasons I retired was because of the play or that I somehow felt the play led to more injuries or I was injured because of it," Kelce said. "I was really just there to offer my perspective on that stuff not being true and the fact that I think it's a relatively safe play."

Since 2022, the Eagles have run the Tush Push more often and effectively than any team in the NFL.

The Tush Push is a modified quarterback sneak, which sees the quarterback take the snap and move forward while one or more of his teammates push him from behind.

Kelce, who retired following the 2023 season, was a big reason for the play's initial success, along with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

The Green Bay Packers proposed a rule to not only ban the Tush Push, but to ban any instance of a ball carrier getting pushed or pulled by a teammate, and the vote on that proposal took place at the spring meeting.

Kelce noted that Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie spoke passionately about the play in front of the other owners before Kelce spoke and fielded questions about the play.

The seven-time Pro Bowl and six-time First Team All-Pro center said it was "awesome" to witness the NFL's legislative process, and he expressed his belief that all of the owners had "good intentions" regardless of what side they landed on.

Twenty-four votes were needed in order to ban the Tush Push, but only 22 teams voted in favor of the ban and 10 voted to keep the play in the game, so the Tush Push will be a legal play for at least one more year.

While Kelce is a highly respected veteran, a likely future Hall of Famer and someone who is very much in the public eye, he noted that he wasn't sure if his presentation actually caused any of the owners to change their mind on the Tush Push.

Regardless, one of the reigning Super Bowl champions' most effective plays remains legal, which is one of many reasons why the Eagles have to be considered among the top Super Bowl contenders once again in 2025.