The NFL has fired a warning shot at teams just in time for Week 3, and it's aimed squarely at the controversial "tush push." With the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers set to kick off Thursday night, the league has sent a memo reminding everyone that lining up illegally on these push plays will not be tolerated.
Despite all the offseason chatter about banning the play, the tush push is still very much alive. The NFL hasn't received the 24 votes needed to outlaw it, and the furor that once surrounded the Philadelphia Eagles' signature move has cooled considerably. One big reason? Referees are now calling offensive offside penalties on the play, and the league is making sure teams get the message.
On Thursday, the NFL distributed a memo that included a clip from Week 1 showing Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner lined up offside during a tush push attempt. The league's officiating and rules analyst, Walt Anderson, broke down the footage: "We have covered this before, but clubs are reminded on both sides of the ball to line up properly on these push plays. Here, this hand is clearly offside, this head is clearly offside, as is the right hand of the tight end."
The memo serves as a clear directive: if you're going to run the tush push, you better do it by the book. That means every player on the offensive line must be onside when the ball is snapped. It's a simple rule, but one that's easy to overlook in the chaos of a short-yardage scrum.
Interestingly, the Packers were the first team to propose banning the tush push back in 2025. They eventually backed off that idea in 2026, much to the relief of the competition committee. "There's no team proposal that I've seen from it," committee co-chairman Rich McKay said via ESPN. "So, I wouldn't envision it. But you never know."
So, for now, the tush push remains legal, but it's under a microscope. Will teams be able to execute it without drawing a flag? That's the question on everyone's mind as Week 3 unfolds. The Eagles, who have made the play almost unstoppable, will likely continue to use it, but they'll need to be extra careful about their alignment.
This crackdown could have broader implications, especially in close games where every yard matters. It's not just about the tush push itself; it's about discipline and attention to detail. Teams that fail to line up correctly will be penalized, and those penalties could be the difference between a win and a loss.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how this warning affects strategy. Some teams might shy away from the play altogether, while others will double down on practicing their alignment. The NFL's memo is a reminder that even the most dominant plays have to follow the rules.
For now, fans can expect to see plenty of tush push attempts in Week 3, but the real test will be whether teams can pull it off without giving away free yards. The league has drawn a line in the sand, and it's up to the players and coaches to stay on the right side of it.
