Jets’ vote on controversial 'tush push' rule was exactly what you’d expect

The NFL’s controversial tush push rule is here to stay, and the New York Jets played a direct role in keeping it alive. On Wednesday, league owners voted on a proposal from the Green Bay Packers that would have banned the play that has taken the league by storm in recent years.

The vote ultimately fell short, with only 22 teams in favor, two shy of the 24 required to push it through. That meant 10 teams voted against the ban, including the Jets, who have every reason to want the tush push preserved heading into 2025.

Given the state of their current roster, particularly the presence of quarterback Justin Fields and an increasingly talented offensive line, the Jets were always a logical candidate to oppose the proposal. Their vote helped decide the final outcome.

It’s hard to call the Jets’ decision anything other than expected. In fact, it would’ve been more surprising if they hadn’t voted to keep the play. This is a team built to take advantage of exactly this kind of short-yardage opportunity, and their vote proved they know it.

Justin Fields likely influenced the NY Jets' tush push decision

The tush push, popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles in recent seasons, involves teammates lining up directly behind the quarterback on short-yardage plays and physically pushing the QB forward after the snap.

While it’s technically still a quarterback sneak, it’s a unique variation that relies heavily on coordination and timing. The Packers' proposal aimed to eliminate this play, citing player safety and competitive imbalance, but it ultimately didn’t garner enough support.

It’s no surprise the Jets were one of the 10 teams to vote against the ban. Fields has been quietly excellent in traditional QB sneaks — going 18-for-22 over the last three seasons — and both the Bears and Steelers (his previous teams) have used him in modified tush push packages.

Even more interesting is the AFC East subplot. The Buffalo Bills were reportedly one of the loudest advocates for banning the tush push, while the rest of the division — Jets, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins — all voted to keep it.

Whether that was pure coincidence or a bit of strategic gamesmanship, the Jets are now set to take full advantage of a rule their division rival badly wanted gone.

The Jets did what made the most sense for their roster and their quarterback. With Justin Fields under center, they weren’t about to give up a potential advantage.

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