Packers OL Jon Runyan says NFL is calling offsides to 'phase out' QB sneaks

Packers lineman Jon Runyan has a theory about the spate of offsides penalties going against the offense. He thinks it all has to do with the quarterback sneak.

Runyan believes the NFL wants to eliminate the sneak, specifically, the Tush Push made popular by the Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts. Officials flagged Runyan twice last Sunday. Both times, quarterback Jordan Love was trying to convert a fourth-and-one. And both times, officials negated the play, ruling that Runyan lined up offsides.

After the Packers beat the Rams, 20-3, Runyan explained what had happened. “They told me that my head can’t be crossing the football — in the neutral zone, technically. But I mean I’ve been doing that ever since I played football in short yardage, even though the center’s head is across the ball. … They just told me this week.”

Jon Runyan Jr.: "They told me that my head can't be crossing the football — in the neutral zone, technically. But I mean I've been doing that ever since I played football in short yardage, even though the center's head is across the ball … They just told me that this week."

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 5, 2023

Then with some extra days to think about the penalty, the Packers guard considered another scenario. “I guess it was a point of emphasis with the officials,” Runyan told reporters. “I wish I would’ve been told that for the first one. It’s something that’s got to be communicated better. That’s the NFL trying to phase that play out slowly.”

Runyan added: “Apparently, they send out a weekly video talking about that. Apparently, that was in the weekly video, but I had no idea. I didn’t even know they sent out a weekly video on points of emphasis. That was on it [last] week and you can tell they were definitely looking for it because they called it twice on us.”

It’s not out of the question. The NFL did kick around the idea of killing the Tush Push with a rule change. But it didn’t pass.

Packers don’t usually run a quarterback sneak

Sports Illustrated noted that the Packers don’t normally run quarterback sneaks. However, the game against the Rams offered a different kind of matchup. The Packers ran the play three times. On the third one, it was a Green Bay variation on the Tush Push. They call it the Love Shove.

ProFootballTalk reported that officials even flagged the Eagles on one of the short-yardage push plays. Center Jason Kelce’s hand was in the neutral zone before he snapped the ball.

And the Steelers, which play the Packers this Sunday, also experienced an offensive offsides during the worst of times. Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell was good on a 55-yard field goal late in the first half of their game, Oct. 29, against the Jaguars. But officials flagged guard Issac Seumalo for lining up in the neutral zone. Seumalo said he has lined up the same way for years with no issues. Coach Mike Tomlin said he’s never seen that penalty called before. Meanwhile, receiver Diontae Johnson criticized the officials after the game. The NFL flagged him with a $25,000 fine, which he doesn’t plan to appeal.

Mike Pereira is the former VP of officiating for the NFL who now works as a rules analyst for Fox Sports, He disagreed with the call on Seumalo, but did acknowledge officials are calling it.

“In Pittsburgh, offside on the offensive guard?” Pereira tweeted. “Officials are told to call that if a lineman has his head in the neutral zone on the short yardage push plays, not on field goal attempts.”

Maybe officials should notify the Packers this is coming, so all the linemen will keep their heads and hands out of the neutral zone during the Love Shove. It’s likely Runyan will remember going forward. He’s an offensive lineman who was raised by a long-time offensive lineman (Jon Sr.)