In the ever-evolving landscape of the National Football League (NFL), certain plays rise above the noise, not just for their tactical effectiveness but for the controversy they invite. The “Tush Push,” a quarterback sneak variant made famous (and nearly indefensible) by the Philadelphia Eagles, has now ignited a new wave of debate across the league. Most recently, the Green Bay Packers have stoked the fire by pushing for the play’s potential ban, citing concerns over fairness and safety.
However, not everyone is lining up to kill the play. Enter two of the NFL’s most recognizable former players—Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman. Known for their tough-nosed style of play and their Super Bowl-laden legacy with the New England Patriots, the dynamic duo have re-entered the spotlight, this time as vocal defenders of the Tush Push. And they’re not pulling any punches.
The Packers’ Push Against the Push
The Green Bay Packers recently submitted a formal proposal to the NFL’s Competition Committee, requesting serious reconsideration of the Tush Push. The play, in which the quarterback receives a helpful shove from behind by teammates to secure short-yardage gains, has become a staple of the Eagles’ offensive scheme under quarterback Jalen Hurts. Last season, Philadelphia converted an eye-popping 92% of its Tush Push attempts.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, among others, argued that the play gives an unfair mechanical advantage and promotes an unnatural version of football. “It’s not what the game was built on,” LaFleur said during a recent press conference. “You’re turning football into a rugby scrum. Where’s the skill in that?”
The Packers’ stance found allies in other front offices concerned with injury risk and diminished competitive balance. However, the backlash from former players—especially ones who thrived in physical, grind-it-out scenarios—was immediate and loud.
Gronkowski: “That’s Football, Baby”
Few players embodied the spirit of football toughness more than Rob Gronkowski. The four-time Super Bowl champion tight end was notorious for dragging defenders for extra yards, pancaking linebackers, and catching critical red-zone passes in traffic. So, when asked about the Tush Push controversy during a recent appearance on FS1’s The Herd, Gronk didn’t mince words.
“That’s football, baby. It’s 4th-and-1, you line up, you know what’s coming, and you try to stop it. If you can’t, that’s on you—not the rulebook,” Gronkowski said, flashing his trademark grin. “We used to have plays like that with Brady all the time. QB sneaks, wedge blocks—it’s part of the grit.”
Gronk further pointed out that the Tush Push isn’t a guaranteed success across the league. “Everyone talks like it’s some cheat code. It works for Philly because they’ve got the O-line, the scheme, and Hurts is a beast. If you don’t have those pieces, you’re just running into a wall.”
Edelman: “Don’t Cry About It—Game Plan Around It”
Julian Edelman, Gronkowski’s longtime Patriots teammate and fellow three-time Super Bowl winner, echoed those sentiments on his Games With Jules podcast. In his eyes, the Packers’ call to ban the Tush Push is less about principle and more about frustration.
“Let’s be real here—if the Packers had a guy like Jason Kelce up front and a QB built like a linebacker, they’d be running it too,” Edelman said. “You don’t like it? Don’t cry about it. Game plan around it. Build a front seven that can stand its ground.”
Edelman, who was known for his tough slot play and willingness to block linebackers and safeties in the run game, emphasized that physicality has always been at the heart of football. “We’re gonna ban things now because they’re too physical? Too effective? Come on. This isn’t 7-on-7. This is the NFL.”
Player Safety vs. Competitive Fairness
To be fair, not everyone against the Tush Push is simply salty about its effectiveness. One of the most common concerns cited by opponents—including several team physicians and player safety advocates—is the potential for lower-body injuries. The play, by design, creates a compressed mass of humanity in tight space with players launching from behind.
Yet, data to support the notion that the Tush Push is more dangerous than other short-yardage plays is limited. The NFL’s internal injury reports haven’t flagged the play as a statistically high-risk action. And that fact bolsters Gronkowski and Edelman’s case.
“If it was really dangerous, I’d be the first to say pull it back,” Gronk told ESPN’s NFL Live. “But the league hasn’t shown the numbers. Until then, it’s just a hard-nosed play that works.”
Historical Precedents and Patriots Parallels
Ironically, much of the groundwork for today’s Tush Push success was laid during the Brady-Belichick era in New England. Tom Brady’s quarterback sneak, often with a silent signal and with linemen like Logan Mankins plowing ahead, was one of the most successful short-yardage tools in the NFL for over a decade.
Edelman pointed this out with pride. “We were doing versions of this before it got cute names,” he laughed. “Brady had like an 80% conversion rate on sneaks. Everyone respected it. Now Philly refines it, and suddenly it’s illegal? Nah. Let’s give credit where it’s due.”
Current Players Chime In
While Gronk and Edelman have been the most animated critics of the anti-Tush Push movement, current players are starting to weigh in too. Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce passionately defended the play on his New Heights podcast with his brother Travis, calling the Packers’ proposal “short-sighted and lazy.”
Meanwhile, San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk tweeted, “If you can stop it, stop it. If not, don’t ask for help from the rules committee.”
The divide has become emblematic of a larger ideological split: traditionalists and physical players vs. those seeking a more refined, balanced league aesthetic.
NFL Competition Committee: Stuck in the Middle
The NFL’s Competition Committee finds itself squarely in the crosshairs. On one side, high-powered franchises like Philadelphia have built playbooks around this innovation. On the other side, organizations like Green Bay and Indianapolis argue it undermines the integrity of positional skill.
According to league insiders, the committee is “monitoring” the situation closely and may revisit the topic during the offseason rules summit in March. However, unless compelling data shows increased injuries or long-term concerns, a complete ban appears unlikely.
Public Opinion and Fan Response
Fan sentiment, as often happens with controversial plays, is split but leans slightly in favor of preserving the Tush Push. Social media buzz shows that many fans appreciate the rugged simplicity of the play and see it as a legitimate test of will in a sport where brute strength often decides games.
“I’d rather see a QB get shoved into the end zone than a bogus DPI call decide 4th-and-goal,” one fan posted on Reddit’s r/NFL thread. “Let the guys play.”
NFL merchandise retailers have even seen an uptick in Tush Push-themed shirts, with some emblazoned with the phrase “Push Me, Bro!” It’s clear the fans are engaged—and entertained.
What’s Next?
With the Packers now formally challenging the play’s legality, the NFL has no choice but to address the elephant—or quarterback—in the room. Whether it results in a ban, a limitation (perhaps on how many players can assist from behind), or no action at all, will likely depend on input from both the data and the personalities driving the league’s public dialogue.
And if Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman have their way, that dialogue will stay loud, unapologetic, and rooted in the foundational principles of football.
“This ain’t flag football,” Edelman said in a fiery sign-off on NFL GameDay. “It’s the league we bled in. Don’t start banning the stuff that makes it real.
