Former Eagles center Jason Kelce is stepping into the spotlight as the NFL owners prepare to weigh in on a potential rule change that could impact one of the league’s more controversial plays: the tush push. Kelce’s recent comments on his New Heights podcast indicate that he wants to clear the air regarding misconceptions surrounding the play and its relationship to his career decisions, particularly his retirement.
Kelce has made it clear that he doesn’t believe the tush push is dangerous, nor does he feel it played a role in his decision to step away from the game. He’s headed to Minnesota for the owners’ meeting to directly address any questions or concerns that might arise from his previous statements. “I’m actually going to Minnesota,” he stated. “There were some things said at the last owners’ meeting, some of the owners and coaches hinted that the reason I stopped playing was because of the tush push, and that I got hurt on the tush push frequently.”
This proactive approach from Kelce signals his commitment to the game and to ensuring that there’s transparency surrounding his views on this contentious topic. He emphasized that he’s open to discussion, saying, “I don’t care whether it gets banned or not. At the end of the day, this is why you vote on things, and if they vote to ban the tush push, the Eagles are still going to run a quarterback sneak at a very high percentage.”
For Kelce, the fun isn’t gone; in fact, he’s enthusiastic about the prospect of returning to the field. “I’ll come out of retirement today if you tell me, ‘All you gotta do is run 80 tush pushes to play in the NFL.’ I’ll do that gladly. It’ll be the easiest job in the world,” he quipped.
As the owners convene, the outcome of their decision could fundamentally alter one of the Eagles’ most recognizable strategies. Here’s hoping they take a moment to hear what the savvy veteran has to say before paving the way for significant changes in the league’s rulebook. Whether they heed Kelce’s experience and insight will remain to be seen.
