Over the last two NFL seasons, the highly effective short-yardage play called the Tush Push has become one of the most controversial plays in football. The Philadelphia Eagles began it and have been incredibly successful with it — and it’s nearly impossible for even the best defenses to stop.
The Tush Push is a type of quarterback sneak where the quarterback takes the snap and pushes forward behind the center. Other players, like running backs or tight ends, line up directly behind the quarterback and use brute force to push him from behind — hence the name — to help gain short yardage
The Super Bowl champion Eagles, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, have almost perfected it, thus bringing it into the spotlight. With one of the best offensive lines in the league and a quarterback built more like a running back, they’ve made it an automatic first down machine. In the 2023 season, they converted over 80% of their Tush Push attempts — a testament to how effective it is. The play has helped the Eagles extend drives, control the clock and even score touchdowns near the goal line. In close games, these short gains can be the difference between winning and losing.
Many teams have tried to copy it, but most haven’t been able to do it as well as the Eagles. That’s likely because it doesn’t just take big players — it takes perfect timing, chemistry and practice. Hurts is also known for having a powerful lower body, which helps him push forward even when he is met with the resistance of 300-pound defensive linemen.
But not everyone is a fan of the Tush Push. Some people think it gives the offense an unfair advantage because it’s so hard for defenses to stop. Others say it leads to more injuries, especially among the defensive and offensive linemen. The linemen are forced into low to the ground collisions that can result in severe leg injuries and even concussions. The compact nature of the play also means that the players bend at awkward angles, further increasing the chance of injury.
The NFL’s decision on banning the controversial Tush Push remains pending. The league’s owners were set to vote on the Green Bay Packers’ proposal to ban the play during the annual league meeting in early April; however, the vote was postponed due to a lack of consensus. The proposal will be revisited at the upcoming spring meeting on May 20-21 in Minnesota.
Fans are also divided. Some love the play for how reliable and strategic it is. Others say it’s boring and takes away from the excitement and creativity of football. But whether people love or hate it, the Tush Push has become one of the most effective — and controversial — plays in the league.
“It’s not pretty,” Hurts said during the Super Bowl, “but it gets the job done.”
