It has been called football’s “unstoppable play.” Figures around the NFL from team presidents to former players have called for it to be banned. But with the Philadelphia Eagles back in Super Bowl LIX after reaching the big game two seasons ago, something else is back in a Super Bowl.
The “Tush Push.”
The short-yardage play that the Eagles debuted during the 2022 regular season, in their run to Super Bowl LVII, is back for another installment. For those unfamiliar, the play is a modified version of the quarterback sneak, only instead of relying on Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts to dive forward and pick up the yardage thanks to solely the blockers in front of him, the “Tush Push” incorporates players behind Hurts, helping to shove him forward.
This is what the play looks like in action:
This play from the Eagles’ win over the Washington Commanders is a prime example of the Tush Push in action. Facing a 3rd-and-1 situation midway in the second quarter, the Eagles line up with Hurts under center and using a condensed formation. The offensive line all line up as low as possible before the snap, and dive forward as the play begins to try and create space for Hurts on his sneak.
But the critical element comes behind the quarterback. In this example tight end Dallas Goedert, wide receiver Johnny Wilson, and running back Saquon Barkley all line up behind Hurts. As the play begins and Hurts plunges forward that trio of teammates shove him forward, giving him a boost from behind.
There are several factors why the play has been so successful over the years, including this season when the Eagles have converted the play for a first down on 38-of-47 attempts. The first is the path Hurts aims for with his plunge, as the quarterback tries to get to the left side of the Philadelphia offensive line. That means he is “running” behind left tackle Jordan Mailata, left guard Landon Dickerson, and center Cam Jurgens, who weigh a combined 1,000 pounds according to the Eagles’ current roster.
Then there is the fact that Hurts himself is as strong as it gets at the position. The Eagles quarterback trained as a powerlifter during high school, including participating in powerlifting meets when he was a teenager. Videos of Hurts squatting 600 pounds made their rounds on the Internet before the Tush Push was a play.
And, as if that were not enough the play includes two or three of Hurts’ teammates, shoving him forward from behind.
Jurgens also gave credit to the well-oiled machine that is the Eagles offense, and how well they work together.
“It’s like a truck with four-wheel drive,” Jurgens said ahead of Super Bowl LIX. “If something goes wrong, like a flat tire or this or that it’s not gonna work. It’s all of us moving together in unison.”
The play was very successful two seasons ago when the Eagles met the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. That night Philadelphia converted all six of their Tush Push attempts, as Hurts ran for three touchdowns in that game. While just one came on the Tush Push, it was unstoppable that night against Kansas City.
Still, the play has some detractors, such as Green Bay Packers Team President Mark Murphy. On a monthly Q&A on the Packers’ website, Murphy blasted the play as being “bad for the game.”
“I am not a fan of this play,” Murphy said. “There is no skill involved and it is almost an automatic first down on plays of a yard or less. The series of plays with the Commanders jumping offsides in the NFC Championship Game to try to stop the play was ridiculous. The referee even threatened to give the Eagles an automatic touchdown if the Commanders did not stop it. I would like to see the league prohibit pushing or aiding the runner [QB] on this play. There used to be a rule prohibiting this, but it is no longer enforced, because I believe it was thought to be too hard for the officials to see. The play is bad for the game, and we should go back to prohibiting the push of the runner. This would bring back the traditional QB sneak. That worked pretty well for Bart Starr and the Packers in the Ice Bowl.”
As noted by Murphy there was an incredible moment in the NFC Championship Game where Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu hurled himself over the top of the Philadelphia offensive line on multiple occasions, trying to stop an eventual Tush Push play. However, Luvu was flagged for offsides on consecutive plays, and officials warned that Washington was at risk of seeing the Eagles awarded a touchdown under a rare portion of the NFL rulebook.
In addition to the play being so successful for the Eagles, it drastically alters their approach on offense. Knowing just how likely it is they can convert a short-yardage situation, Philadelphia can approach play-calling knowing that as long as they get to fourth-and-short, they are likely going to extend their drive with the Tush Push.
The incredible moment from the NFC Championship Game was not the only rule invoked recently regarding the play. Ahead of the 2024 season, the NFL adjusted the rules for the Tush Push, requiring the players behind the quarterback to be one yard or more away from the QB.
That adjustment has not slowed the Eagles down.
The task of stopping the Tush Push now falls to Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and the Chiefs defense. Speaking ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Spanguolo admitted that the Chiefs might not have an answer for the play, unless they can sign 11 rugby players to their roster ahead of kickoff.
“We’re going to try a couple things, but I’m not sure we have an answer for that,” said Spagnuolo. “I don’t think there’s any secret. The secret is probably in trying to have 11 rugby players on your team who can push it the other way.”
The defensive coordinator admitted that his peers are all hoping that the league does away with the play, as they all search for an answer.
“When we all get together, we all go, ‘I wish they would get rid of this play,’” said Spagnuolo this week. “We were hoping they were going to outlaw it, so we still got to deal with it.”
On the other side of the field, Jurgens thinks that is easier said than done.
“They can’t stop it and they can’t do it,” Jurgens said this week. “I think if everybody could do it, no one would want to ban it.”
We’ll see if the Chiefs have an answer for the play in just a few hours.
