NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly wants to ban the Philadelphia Eagles’ infamous “tush push” play.
On Saturday, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that the commissioner is hoping to make the play disappear from the NFL for good.
The increased risk of injury for those involved in the play would likely be the reason behind its potential banning, but “injuries aren’t happening as much despite big bodies ramming into each other every week when the play is used,” Russini was told.
For the play to be banned, 24 of the league’s 32 owners would have to approve a rule change at the annual owners meeting in March 2024.
What is the ‘tush push’ or ‘brotherly shove’?
For those unaware of how the “tush push” — or what is now being rebranded as the “brotherly shove” — works, it involves Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts lining up under center on short yardage downs.
As the offensive line pushes forward, two or three players line up behind a diving Hurts to push him forward over the line of scrimmage to get a first down or a touchdown.
The Eagles ran the play 41 times last season on their way to the Super Bowl and successfully converted 37 of those plays into first downs or touchdowns, according to The Associated Press.
The play has proved to be successful for the Eagles this season, as well, but not for the rest of the NFL, CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr reported.
As of Oct. 3, the Eagles had converted on 10 of the 11 times they’d run it. At that point in the season, other teams had run the play 71 times but only been successful 49 times.
Do other NFL teams use the ‘tush push’ or ‘brotherly shove’?
The banning of the play would affect more than just the Eagles’ playbook. NFL head coaches and offensive coordinators seem to be followers of the proverb, if you can’t beat them, join them.
After complaining about the Eagles’ highly successful “tush push” play, other NFL teams have started incorporating it into their offenses.
The Green Bay Packers used the play Sunday, prompting some to rename it the “Love shove” after quarterback Jordan Love.
The Arizona Cardinals have also recognized the play’s success and have run it despite having a quarterback under 6 feet tall. Instead of Kyler Murray, the team sends out rookie backup Clayton Tune to execute successful two-point conversions.
The play even made its way to the collegiate level, making an appearance in Utah’s loss to Oregon State on Sept. 29. The Beavers successfully ran the “tush push” in the first quarter and then successfully ran a fake “tush push” later in the fourth quarter.
But the play doesn’t work for everyone.
When the New York Giants ran their rendition of the play on Oct. 2, the team was unsuccessful and suffered serious losses. The Giants lost center John Michael Schmitz and tight end Daniel Bellinger to injuries during the play, according to ESPN.
The Eagles ran their own fake “tush push” during their Sept. 25 “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but were unsuccessful since Hurts fell during the play.
What is being said about the ‘tush push’?
The play has received mixed reviews. Recently retired defensive-end J.J. Watt voiced his support of the play on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, and gave his take on why it’s successful for the Eagles.
“If they weren’t allowed to push from behind, the Eagles would still be just as successful at QB sneaks. Yes it helps, but the push isn’t the reason it’s successful. The (offensive line) and Jalen (Hurts) are,” he wrote.
Former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman said his beef with the play comes from the NFL’s hypocrisy.
“My problem with the tush push is the (NFL) literally banned defensive players from pushing other players into the offensive formation on FG and PATs because it was a ‘Health and safety issue’ but now it’s OK because it benefits the offense?” he said on X.
Reporters asked Hurts in September if the NFL should ban the “tush push.”
“I have no thoughts on it,” he said, according to Yahoo Sports. “We’re the only people that are doing it as well as we are. There was a guy who wanted me hurt for it, too.”
Hurts could have been referencing football analyst and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms who had said on Pro Football Talk that defenses should “go headhunting on the QB” and “try to kill the QB,” according to a video shared on X.
Is the ‘tush push’ legal?
In September, a reporter asked Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni if the team doubted the legality of the play.
“We knew the rules. Any time we put a play in that maybe not a lot of people run, and that there could be anything within the rules, we’ll always look into that. So, we knew the rules that that was completely legal, and it’s been a good play for us. Really good play for us because the guys make it go and make it work,” he said, per the Eagles website.
Sirianni is right.
The play is legal, meaning every team can run it. The NFL lifted its ban on pushing a ball carrier forward in 2005.
But just because a play looks easy doesn’t mean it actually is. Personnel — like the Eagles’ No. 1 ranked offensive line — is the key to whether the “tush push” will work for a team.