The Falcoholic
Popularized by the Eagles in 2022, the tush push has garnered severe league attention, both positive and negative, and now we finally have an answer on if the play will remain legal.
Eagles fans rejoice, the “Tush Push” lives to see another day... for now. The play has been the topic of conversation around the league and online ever since the Eagles not only popularized it, but showed a high rate of success running the play in short yardage situations. Originally proposed by the Green Bay Packers, a potential ban on the play was deliberated on for several months among all 32 teams, and was finally voted on earlier Wednesday morning, with 22 teams in favor of the ban, and 10 teams in opposition to the ban. For proposed rule changes like the “Tush Push” ban, 75% of teams need to vote for the rule to pass, meaning the play was just two votes shy of getting that passing percentage needed. Adam Schefter reported that along with the Eagles, the nine teams that voted for the play to remain were the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans and New York Jets, and the rest of the league would be on the other side of the coin, including our very own Atlanta Falcons.
According to CBS’s Jonathan Jones, the play was supported by speeches from owner Jeffery Lurie, who he said gave a “passionate but fair” speech during meetings, along with retired center and Eagles legend Jason Kelce who was a key element of the play in his final years with the team. To celebrate, the Eagles social media team posted a series of graphics across platforms, including a 26 minute highlight reel of the play on YouTube. It’s safe to say they’re pretty excited about the play sticking around. Others in the league, however, clearly are not.
During a 2020 week 10 game against the Tennessee Titans, then Colts’ offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni recommended subbing in backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett to run a quarterback sneak from about two yards out at the goal line. He suggested this because at the time, Brissett weighed 238 pounds, slightly heavier and stronger than the team’s starter veteran Phillip Rivers. The play worked well, as Brissett gained the yards needed and then some, plowing his way into the end zone extending the lead to three scores.
A year later when Sirianni became head coach of the Eagles, he would incorporate this same strategy with Jalen Hurts, who notably squats 600 pounds, but this time would add an extra element by having someone boost Hurts in the back, helping him pick up the yardage needed. A year later, the play became a crucial part of the Eagles offense as the team adopted a unique formation just for the play similar to the quarterback kneel formation, but would use a running back and tight end to push Hurts...
