Eagles HC Nick Sirianni fires back at ‘Tush Push’ critics, reacts to proposal to ban play

NFL.com columnist Judy Battista reported Monday that one NFL team proposed a league-wide ban of the “Tush Push,” the play made famous by the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Addressing the matter Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni called it “insulting” and “unfair” for a team to propose a ban of the “Tush Push.” NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero revealed it was the Green Bay Packers who proposed the ban.

“I almost feel a little insulted because we work so hard at that play,” Sirianni said, via Pro Football Talk. “The amount of things that we’ve looked into how to coach that play, the fundamentals. There’s 1000 plays out there, but it comes down to how you teach the fundamentals and how the players go through the fundamentals. … The fact that it’s a successful play for the Eagles and people want to take that away, I think is a little unfair.”

The “Tush Push,” also known as the “Brotherly Shove,” is a quarterback sneak play in which several players get behind the quarterback and attempt to push him past the first down marker. It’s been a highly effective play for Philadelphia, allowing them to move the chains on third/fourth and short situations. Jalen Hurts has benefitted from the play at the goal line, with 42 rushing scores over the last three seasons.

Nick Sirianni responds to health and safety concerns of ‘Tush Push’

Other teams have tried, but nobody has perfected the “Tush Push” like the Eagles. But the one thing the NFL could be looking at is the safety element of the play. Last year, the league outlawed the hip-drop tackle and introduced a new dynamic kickoff format. The “Tush Push” wasn’t on the agenda but it will be this year, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent told Battista.

“Hip drop and the ‘Tush Push’ were in the same conversation three years ago,” Vincent said. “A year ago, we felt like let’s just focus in on the hip-drop tackle, and the ‘Tush Push,’ just say, hey, the Philadelphia Eagles, they just do it better than everybody else. But there are some concerns. Our health and safety committee has laid that out today with a brief conversation on the injury report. There’s some challenges, some concerns that they’ll share with the broader group tomorrow. But the ‘Tush Push’ will become a topic of discussion moving into March.”

Sirianni doesn’t buy the health and safety concerns.

“I think that’s a little made up,” Sirianni said. “… I can’t remember one injury we had on that play, and we ran it more than anybody else.”

24 teams must approve the proposal for the NFL to ban the “Tush Push.” The Annual League Meeting begins March 30 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida.