Last year, we got a completely new kick-off presentation, among other things. That change brought on a lot of controversy, much of which still exists. This offseason, a new controversial proposed rule change has been the talk of the league since the Green Bay Packers put it forth during the owners meetings a few weeks ago, a proposal that was revised prior to NFL owners gathering again this week in Eagan, MN.

To ban or not ban the “Tush Push”… that has been the question this offseason. The short-yardage play on the classic “QB sneak” the Eagles have become nearly unstoppable using the “Tush Push”, with multi-talented QB Jalen Hurts perfecting the operation.

Minnesota Vikings voted to ban the Tush Push

Well, the final vote in Minnesota took place Wednesday. Unfortunately for the Vikings’ historic rival, it was voted down. This time around, however, it wasn’t the Minnesota Vikings who stood in the way of the Packers proposal. They actually voted for it. Still, the vote came up just short… by two votes.

The @Vikings voted to ban the Tush Push. https://t.co/23Mb12Ky78 pic.twitter.com/cbG25lLR8f

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) May 21, 2025

It’s not often that the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers find common ground. Here they did, but it didn’t matter.Even after the addition of Ryan Kelly, Donovan Jackson, and Will Fries, the Vikings apparently want no part future rugby-style scrums. Too bad for them, however.

After the vote for a ban failed to pass, the Philadelphia Eagles pulled off a perfect troll post aimed right at the Green Bay Packers. Although the Minnesota Vikings opted to ban the play as well, there’s nothing better than seeing one of your rivals get drug through the mud.

Related: Justin Jefferson Wants the Olympics on His Resume

Last season the Eagles started the year with a win over Green Bay in Brazil, and they ended the Packers season with a Wild Card victory stateside. Minnesota didn’t want to use the play, but at least they aren’t the butt of the joke here.

pic.twitter.com/bQh1wDWhTN

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 21, 2025

Well, we’ve already covered how much blame pie Nick Mullens deserves, after two red zone interceptions ruined an otherwise incredible game. But there’s no doubt Kevin O’Connell slice is bigger than Mullens. KOC has his fair share of coaching flaws, especially in-game, and he made mistakes throughout Saturday’s contest.

The Tush Push Controversy

But it was O’Connell’s decision to run the tush push two times in a row during OT, just beyond midfield. Neither attempt was successful in moving the ball the 3-5 inches needed for the Vikings to reach a 1st down.

It’s not the first time Minnesota has unsuccessfully run the tush push this season, but it might have been their most egregious try at it.

A view of the Bengals' defense on the second tush push in OT. Kevin O'Connell said he used 3 WR to keep the Bengals out of goal-line/short yardage, usually defined as 5 or 6 DL. But the Bengals still had 2 DL lined up over C Garrett Bradbury and pushed him back into Nick Mullens. pic.twitter.com/mNWFJGxTv5

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 17, 2023

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A lot of teams have tried to copy the unstoppable goal line tush push that Philadelphia has deployed this season. Most, including the Vikings, have been unsuccessful. If KOC needs some tips on why his version of the tush push isn’t working, he might need to call Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.

Dave Portnoy dumbfounded by Vikings decision to make Brandon Powell a tush pusher

Even better, Dave made a video and put it on Twitter for the Vikings head coach and anyone else with an internet connection to view. And it’s difficult to argue his logic.

If designing a good tush push for your offense… I wouldn’t recommend making Brandon Powell, probably the smallest player on the Vikings roster and one of the smallest players in the entire league, as your main tush pusher. But, with the game on the line Saturday, that’s exactly what KOC did… twice in a row.

You have to fire everybody if you're the Vikings for this pic.twitter.com/MNugr2KyxU

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) December 16, 2023

“Listen, this tush push that the Eagles do. The Vikings have 3rd and inches, 4th and inches and they try this tush push. I don’t get how dumb… Number 4 is 5-foot-1, 102 pounds and he’s the tush push guy?!

I just… Do you know how impossibly dumb, and I don’t know [what the correct term is], little people, midget, dwarf, whatever you want to call it. The guy who is the tush push guy on the Vikings twice in a row is a little person!!! You need a lineman to push or something! Don’t put the littlest guy, who gets blown over by a strong gust of wind, you MORONS!!”

Dave Portnoy – Barstool Sports

Kevin O’Connell, defend yourself…

O’Connell said after the game that he kept three wide receivers in the game because he didn’t want the Bengals to have a heavier personnel setup on defensive. Even if that is your reasoning, you’d think he’d find a way to motion a running back or tight end behind Mullens to be the pusher, instead of Powell.

Related: Nick Mullens Proves Kevin O’Connell Right, Even in Vikings Loss

KOC said he didn’t want to turn around and go backwards to hand the ball off when they only needed a few inches to reach the sticks. Most don’t like that logic, given Ty Chandler had been running all over the Cincinnati defense all day, prior to those tush pushes.

But I’m with Dave Portnoy on this one. If you are going to decide that a tush push is the best route to a first down or touchdown, then give yourself the best opportunity for it to be successful. And that cannot be with Brandon Powell, the team’s smallest player, as the main pusher.