In a surprising turn of events, the Eagles’ Tush Push play survived the league’s spring meetings last week, despite some NFL teams’ frustration with the decision.
For months, numerous NFL coaches and general managers have criticized the Eagles’ short-yardage tactic, arguing it poses safety risks and calling for it to be banned. Rams head coach Sean McVay and others have also voiced their concerns about how the play looks on the field, likening it to a rugby scrum.
As the season unfolds, more teams could join in voicing their frustrations about the Eagles’ use of the Tush Push — or take the route of Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson, who’s been openly dismissive of it.
“Have you ever seen a Tush Push become a big, explosive play?” Johnson asked reporters on Wednesday. “I like explosive plays. I like big plays. So, I’m not a fan of the Tush Push.”
In his first offseason as Chicago’s head coach, Johnson has shown no shortage of confidence, taking shots at Packers coach Matt LaFleur and his former Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Now, he’s also called out the Eagles, suggesting the Tush Push is nothing special.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, one of the league’s most self-assured coaches, might just make Johnson eat those words in their Week 13 matchup. The Eagles could use the Tush Push to power their way to first downs and touchdowns, wearing down the Bears’ defense with sheer physicality.
Last season, the Eagles converted 28 of 34 Tush Push attempts (an 82% success rate), and even used it to score the first touchdown in their Super Bowl LIX win over the Chiefs, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
Interestingly, a day before the NFL’s final decision on the play, Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown and offensive tackle Jordan Mailata told reporters they wouldn’t mind if the league banned it, downplaying its significance.
“It’s only one yard,” Brown said.
The Eagles’ offense has proven it can move the chains on QB sneaks without the push, but now that the play is allowed to stay, their coaches and players will no doubt revel in the fact that other teams hate it — and can’t seem to stop it.
“I think it’s soft, to be honest,” said Eagles running back Saquon Barkley on the “Exciting Mics” podcast, hosted by his teammates Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean. “Anybody can do it. It’s not like it’s exclusive to us. We just happen to have one of the best, biggest O-lines and a quarterback who can squat 600 pounds. That’s not our fault.
“Josh Allen is massive, but his team isn’t as successful with it. Lamar Jackson is one of the best running quarterbacks ever, yet they aren’t as good at it either. It’s not something everyone can’t do — so trying to outlaw it is pretty lame, in my opinion.”
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