Just as we set our sights on that 2025 Met Gala, headlines on the controversial “tush push” in football have started to dominate the news cycle. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley recently added his voice to the fray. He shined a light on just how pivotal this much debated play has become in the game today.
The tush push, primarily executed by the Eagles and led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, has drawn both admiration and criticism. It has become a central figure in debates surrounding fourth-down approaches, as well as the transformation of quarterback sneaks. Barkley manages to provide unique perspective right as the play’s effectiveness is being called into question. This comes on the heels of a failed proposal to ban the play altogether, with 10 teams voting against the motion.
Under Doug Pederson’s stewardship as the Eagles head coach, the eagles changed the league’s approach to fourth downs. Especially with Carson Wentz under center, where they often turned to the quarterback sneak to convert some of their most important plays. This strategy paved the way for the tush push to even come about.
The use of quarterback sneaks became more widespread across the league. More than doubling from 109 in 2016 to 234 in 2020. Fast forward to 2023, and the popularity of these plays has stabilized at an astonishing 341 attempts, three times their volume from just 2016. The Eagles’ special, customized version of this play has been surprisingly effective. In summary, that tush push was responsible for a jaw dropping 106 first downs and 33 touchdowns. Converting at 85.5%, it ranked second only to Buffalo’s 88.2% on their tries.
Kellen Moore, former Eagles OC, admitted that there really is no defense against this play. He credited Jalen and the offensive staff for their creative play design. He added that somebody made a decision to put in place a rule just to prevent that from happening.
There’s no clear invention point for the tush push, but its earliest iterations can be seen in variations of the quarterback sneak. Center Jason Kelce and the Eagles’ offensive line, under the guidance of Jeff Stoutland, became advocates for this approach even before head coach Nick Sirianni’s arrival. In fact, the play’s first execution took place in 2021, going against some perceptions that it only started in 2022.
The Eagles had remarkable audacity in January. Incredibly, they ran the tush push six times in a row against the Washington Commanders! Referee Shawn Hochuli later issued an unusual official warning for “palpably unfair acts.” This was due in large part to Washington’s inability to come in and break up the play.
Nazeeh Johnson, a player from Washington, noted the predictability of Hurts’ sneaks, saying, “I mean, from our defensive side, he always QB sneaks to our right.” He further explained that defenders knew that Hurts preferred that side of the field, and for good reason.
Player safety misconceptions
Alongside this criticism, shouts of “player safety!” have been called out in criticism of the tush push. Even Falcons defensive coordinator Raheem Morris reacted to his anger on the mechanics of play. He was like, I hate the play, and the only way I can pretend to stop it is to make someone run into a human blocker to kill another human. His concern is focused on the injuries that would result from such violent and harassing behavior.
At the same time, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn made headlines for his resolve to stop these plays from occurring. “But we’re not going to give up on anything,” he stated. “That’s not how we get down.”
It seems that most fans are deeply divided on the safety and efficacy of the tush push. One thing is clear—it has become the calling card of today’s football genius. Coaches and players are still trying to figure out its effects on offense and defense. They accomplish this as they prepare themselves and their farms for the future growing seasons.
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