The Eagles mastered it. The league debated it. And now, it’s here to stay.
In an accuracy-based, strength-based, creativity-based league, no play has divided fans, players, and front office managers more greatly than the “Tush Push.” Quarterback sneak, science experiment, the short-yardage giant—the Philadelphia Eagles’ finely-tuned masterpiece—was the most-talked-about play in football the past two seasons. Admire it, despise it, the only option you can’t exercise against the Tush Push is disregard it.
Despite the recent try at banning the play—most recently instigated by the Green Bay Packers—NFL owners in the off-season legalized the controversial tactic. And with that, the most unstoppable play football has to offer today isn’t going anywhere (Washington Post, 2025).
What Is the Tush Push?
In essence, the Tush Push (or, alternatively, the “Brotherly Shove”) is merely a quarterback sneak. The twist comes in the manner it’s being accomplished, however: The Eagles arrange in a tight setup, then center Jason Kelce snaps back the ball to quarterback Jalen Hurts, and he runs ahead, being pushed along by the wall of his linemen—only for his teammates, most commonly the tight ends or backs, to push ahead along with him all the way up to the first-down stripe.
Simple? Maybe. Legal? To date. Successful? Beyond doubt.
A Play That Breaks the Game—or Just Breaks the Will?
Let’s dive into the numbers. In 2023, the Eagles attempted the Tush Push 43 times and succeeded 36 times. That was an 83.7% success rate on short-yardage runs when everyone in the stadium knew the play was coming (Palmer, 2025). In 2024, the Eagles attempted the Tush Push 48 times and succeeded 39 times. That was an 81.3% success rate on short-yardage runs when everyone in the stadium knew the play was coming. For comparison, league-average third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 conversion rates stand at about 65%.
The Pushback (Literally and Figuratively)
The debate about the Tush Push is not simply about numbers—it’s about fairness and safety.
The Packers suggested the play should be barred in the offseason in the interest of “integrity of the game” and “danger of injury.” Several other teams secretly acquiesced through behind-the-scenes contacts. When the actual voting was done, however, the proposal was short 22-10 of the 24 votes it would have needed (AP News, 2025).
Green Bay Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy criticized the play, saying, “There is no skill included and it is almost an automatic first down on plays for less than a yard. The play is bad for the game, and we should revert back to prohibiting the push on the runner”. Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni replied, “I kind of feel insulted because we work so much on that play. We work really, really, really, really hard and our guys specialize at this play. It is an insult to call us good at it, then it is automatic”.
That rugby comparison isn’t an exaggeration. In fact, the push-from-behind trend bears elements of the scrum. As long as it is in the rulebook—and the NFL Competition Committee doesn’t intervene—teams certainly can.
Is It Dangerous?
Here is where things really heat up in the debate. The critics argue that the play encourages dangerous pile-ups and lower-body injuries. Linemen roll ankles, and quarterbacks suffer head and neck injuries as they’re being pushed forward and cannot brace for impact. Yet incredibly, there has been no signature injury directly attributed to the Tush Push—at least not one the league has referenced. Jalen Hurts himself has been largely healthy while it has been employed, as well, and the Eagles contend that when executed properly, it is actually safer than the conventional sneak, putting quarterbacks in fewer compromised positions for frontal blows.
Philadelphia Eagles owner, Jeffrey Lurie, emphasized playing safe, stating, “We have been very open to whatever information there happens to be on the tush push and there has just been no information that indicates that it is not an extremely, extremely safe play. One of the reasons that we became motivated to become an expert in the play is it was more protective for the quarterback”.
Why the League Didn’t Ban It
Let’s be real—part of the reason the Tush Push survived is because it’s become a brand. It’s a statement. It’s prime-time meme material. The NFL doesn’t just sell football—it sells moments, and no play has produced more viral clips or sideline reactions than the Brotherly Shove.
More than that, the Competition Committee simply didn’t have enough reason to outlaw it. The play didn’t create a clear competitive imbalance—because no one else could do it like Philly. Instead of banning it, the league seems to be saying: “If you don’t like it, stop it.”
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie summed it up: “I don’t ever remember a play being banned because a single team or a few teams were running it effectively. It’s part of what I think most of us love about football is it’s a chess match. Let the chess match play out”.
NFL reporter Adam Schefter tweeted Tuesday the result of the closely watched vote on the contentious “Tush Push” play—and it’s official: the play will live on. According to Schefter, 24 votes among the ownership group were needed in order for the league to outlaw the play, and it could muster only 22 votes. In an X post, Schefter named the 10 teams that cast votes against the play: the Eagles, Ravens, Browns, Lions, Jaguars, Dolphins, Patriots, Saints, Jets, and Titans. Such specificity not only reflects the teams appreciating the value placed on flexibility and creativity in the offense, it works to frame the league as deadlocked on the play’s fate. The Philadelphia Eagles, perhaps unsurprisingly, led the effort, having built their short-yardage niche on the play. For the moment, the Tush Push remains legal, in good part due to these ten franchises standing firm.
The Future of the Tush Push
Don’t be surprised if other teams attempt to copy it next offseason. We already know the Giants and the Colts already tried their own variations, however, the Eagles’ secret ingredient—retired center Jason Kelce, quarterback Jalen Hurts’ strength and smarts, and cohesive chemistry—won’t be duplicated in the short term.
Everyone will be waiting, eager to see if the Eagles can still run the play in elite fashion. If their level of success decreases, the drama will evaporate. If it doesn’t? Buckle up for 2026 drama.
Final Thoughts: Love It or Shove It
The Tush Push is the football league’s loves and nightmares—a disruption that challenges convention, hijacks the headline grabs, and ignites fiery arguments along fan lines. It is football distilled: inches gained, and flesh crashing into other flesh in the process.
And now, following the completion of one final vote, the message is unmistakable: The league should have closed the door while it was still able. Now, however, the Tush Push is here to remain.
Tush Push Breakdown
- Play Name: Tush Push/Brotherly Shove
- Key Team: Philadelphia Eagles
- 2023 Success Rate: 83.7% (36 of 43)
- 2024 Success Rate: 81.3% (39 of 48)
- Most Frequent Operator: Jalen Hurts (QB)
- NFL Status: Legal (as of 2025 season)
- Proposed Ban By: Green Bay Packers
- Injury Risk: Considered low; no injuries reported in 2024 (Sports Illustrated, 2025)
League Vote: Not enough owner support to pass ban (22-10 vote)
References
AP News. (2025, May 21). NFL owners vote down proposed tush push ban. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/b46978e8073d5213da514766aeacc188
CBS News Philadelphia. Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie Sounds Off on Potential Tush Push Ban after NFL Tabled Vote. CBS News, 26 Mar. 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/jeffrey-lurie-nfl-tush-push-ban.
CBS Sports. NFL Rule Changes 2025: Packers Move to Outlaw ‘Tush Push,’ While Lions Suggest Major Playoff Seeding Change. CBS Interactive, 25 Mar. 2024, https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-rule-changes-2025-packers-move-to-outlaw-tush-push-while-lions-suggest-major-playoff-seeding-change.
ESPN. (2025, May 21). Tush push lives: Proposal to ban play in NFL fails. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45252032/proposal-ban-tush-push-nfl-fails-two-votes-sources-say
NBC Chicago. NFL Opinions Split on Eagles’ Tush Push at Owners Meetings. NBCUniversal Media, 26 Mar. 2024, https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/nfl/tush-push-opinions-nfl-owners-meetings-sean-mcdermott-mike-tomlin-shane-steichen.
Palmer, J. (2025, March 15). The #eagles success rate on the tush push in 2024 (getting a first down or TD) – 2024: 39 of 51 (76.5%) – 2023: 36 of 43 (83.7%). Retrieved from https://x.com/JamesPalmerTV/status/1894456686926278681
Sports Illustrated. (2025, March 21). No Players Were Injured in Tush Push Plays in 2024, NFL Data Shows. Retrieved from https://www.si.com/nfl/no-players-injured-tush-push-plays-2024-nfl-data
Washington Post. (2025, May 21). Tush push survives as NFL owners reject proposal to ban the play. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/05/21/tush-push-not-banned-nfl/