For the past few seasons, the play widely recognized as the “tush push” has become a hot topic in the NFL. The play itself involves all eleven players crowding around the line of scrimmage, with teammates pushing the quarterback forward in a short-yardage situation as an evolution of the traditional quarterback sneak. It closely resembles a rugby scrum and is typically used to gain only a few yards at a time.
Most notably, the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, have mastered the execution of the “tush push,” which is also commonly known as the “brotherly shove” in Philadelphia. Under Head Coach Nick Sirianni, the play has become a cornerstone of the Eagles’ offense, converting on 37 of 41 attempts for either first downs or touchdowns in the 2024 season alone. While other teams have experimented with the technique, none have matched the Eagles’ success.
At the NFL’s annual league meeting in late March, a formal proposal to ban the “tush push” was introduced, inciting debate around the controversial play. The effort was led by leadership from the Green Bay Packers, who pointed to concerns over player safety and pace of play as rationale to outlaw the formation.
The proposal gained enough traction that no definitive decision was reached, and a formal vote on a potential ban was added to the agenda for the league’s next scheduled meeting in May. If passed, the ban would take effect before the start of the 2025 season.
The idea of banning the “tush push” sounds like NFL teams looking for an easy way to hinder the unstoppable force that is the Philadelphia Eagles’ rushing attack. There’s no evidence to suggest the play is any more dangerous than anything else that can happen on a football field. Injury data pertaining to the “tush push” is rather scarce, most likely because the play made up just 0.28% of offensive snaps during the 2024 NFL season.
The pace of play concerns also lack any real traction. While the play may be visually unappealing to some, given that the ball is hidden amidst a chaotic skirmish between all 22 players, that’s ultimately a subjective matter. Some fans might not enjoy watching another “brotherly shove” extend an already drawn-out Eagles drive, especially when it’s against your team, but that alone shouldn’t warrant a league-wide embargo on the play.
Furthermore, the play is well within the confines of the NFL’s rulebook. Back in 2005, the NFL overturned a rule that had previously prohibited offensive players from pushing a ball carrier forward. As for the player formation component, offensive players must line up at least one yard behind the ball carrier prior to the snap. In turn, the “tush push” doesn’t violate the rulebook, nor does it exploit any loophole that would justify its removal.
Simply put, the “tush push” isn’t an unstoppable play, despite the claims from Packers President Mark Murphy. It’s just that the Eagles execute it better than everyone else.
“The fact that it’s [portrayed] as an automatic thing, we work really hard, and our guys are talented at this play, and so it’s a little insulting to say we’re good at it so it’s automatic. We work really hard at it,” said Coach Sirianni in an interview at the NFL’s Scouting Combine in February.
The play’s remarkable success rate is a testament to the Eagles’ coaching staff and players, who have schemed a well-designed play and executed it with consistent precision. It thrives because of Philadelphia’s elite offensive line and a quarterback in Jalen Hurts who’s tailor-made for the role thanks to his low center of gravity, physical strength, and running ability. The “brotherly shove” is not a glitch in the system; it’s just smart football executed at a high level.